Research Area: Infection
Biological Activity:
Sulfadoxine(Sulphadoxine) is an ultra-long-lasting sulfonamide with an IC50 of 249 µg/ml for P. vivax. It is often used in combination with pyrimethamine to treat or prevent malaria. Both drugs are antifolates; they inhibit the production of enzymes involved in the synthesis of folic acid within the parasites. Either drug by itself is only moderately effective in treating malaria, because the parasite Plasmodium falciparum may be able to use exogenous folic acid, i.e. folic acid which is present in the parasite’s environment, while in combination, the two substances have a synergistic effect which outbalances that ability. [1][2]