Antimalarial effect of cyclosporin-A on murine P. berghei and human P. falciparum.

The effects of Cyclosporin-A (CsA) on the growth of Plasmodia were investigated in an experimental murine model in vivo and on human malaria in vitro. Mice were inoculated with Plasmodium berghei and then treated with different doses of CsA at the patent period. The development and course of this normally lethal parasitaemia in mice was affected by treatment with CsA which is a known immunosuppressant. The drug showed complete protection at a dose of 20 mg/kg wt/day without any recrudescence. Antibody level was at the detection limit after first bout of drug-cured infection. CsA was found to be an inhibitor of P. falciparum growth in a dose dependent fashion, as the concentrations of drug in culture medium increased, a significant reduction in parasitaemia was observed.