Plasmodium species endoperoxide activation via heme

Endoperoxide antimalarials act through a unique mechanism targeting Plasmodium’s vulnerability: abundant intra-parasitic heme from hemoglobin digestion. Drug activation occurs via reductive cleavage catalyzed by Fe²⁺ in heme, producing cytotoxic radicals that rapidly kill malaria parasites through widespread molecular damage—making this pathway both highly effective and selective for infected cells.

Other names

Artemisinin targetHeme-mediated artemisinin activationIntra-parasitic hemeArtemisinin activation by heme

Reductive cleavage of endoperoxide bridge catalyzed by Fe2+ in heme, generating cytotoxic carbon-centered radicals that alkylate and damage parasite biomolecules.