In vivo study of artemisinin and its derivatives against primary amebic meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri.

Artemisinin and its derivatives, beta-arteether and sodium artesunic acid, have been evaluated for activity against experimental primary amebic meningoencephalitis and the efficacy of these compounds has been compared with that of the standard drug amphotericin B. In vivo experiments in Swiss mice have shown that amphotericin B at a dose of 2.5 mg/kg for 5 days produced 100% protection in the mice infected intranasally with Naegleria fowleri. Artemisinin, beta-arteether, and sodium artesunic acid, even when tested at high doses (60-180 mg/kg x 5 days), were not curative and showed only slight protection as indicated by extension of mean survival time.