Nacapunchai, DuangpornPhadungkul, KuladaKaewcharus, Surat2009-05-272009-05-272002-03-16Nacapunchai D, Phadungkul K, Kaewcharus S. In vitro effect of artesunate against Acanthamoeba spp. The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. 2002 ; 33 Suppl 3(): 49-52http://imsear.searo.who.int/handle/123456789/30927The Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health.The in vitro effects of artesunate, the antimalarial agent, and metronidazole against Acanthamoeba spp were studied. Acanthamoeba Group II and Acanthamoeba polyphaga-like were isolated from natural water courses in Buri Ram Province, northeastern Thailand. The trophozoites were axenically cultured in PPYG medium and treated with artesunate in a concentration of 5-700 microg/ml. Artesunate showed its ability to inhibit the growth of acanthamoeba trophozoites: 54% at 50 mg/ml (after six days of exposure) and 93.2% at 100 microg/ml (after two days). The 500-700 microg/ml concentration caused inhibition on the first day of more than 93.2%; excystation did not occur in drug-treated medium. The present study shows that artesunate is amebastatic rather than amebicidal in an axenic culture of trophozoites at the highest concentration of 100 microg/ml. Metronidazole, in concentrations of 5-1,000 microg/ml, had no effects on either trophozoites or cysts.engAcanthamoeba --drug effectsAmebicides --pharmacologyAnimalsArtemisinins --pharmacologySesquiterpenes --pharmacologyIn Vitro