Mefloquine, sold under the brand names Lariam among others, is a medication used to for the treatment of mild to moderate acute malaria caused by Mefloquineuine-susceptible strains of Plasmodium falciparum (both chloroquine-susceptible and resistant strains) or by Plasmodium vivax. Also for the prophylaxis of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax malaria infections, including prophylaxis of chloroquine-resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum. Mefloquine acts as a blood schizonticide. Mefloquine is active against the erythrocytic stages of Plasmodium species. However, the drug has no effect against the exoerythrocytic (hepatic) stages of the parasite. Mefloquine is effective against malaria parasites resistant to chloroquine. Mefloquine is a chiral molecule. According to some research, the (+) enantiomer is more effective in treating malaria, and the (-) enantiomer specifically binds to adenosine receptors in the central nervous system, which may explain some of its psychotropic effects.

.BETA.-ARTESUNATE is enantiomer of artesunate -- a medication used to treat malaria. β-ARTESUNATE is a prodrug that is rapidly converted to its active form dihydroartemisinin. This process involves hydrolysis of the 4-carbon ester group via plasma esterase enzyme. It is hypothesized that the cleavage of endoperoxide bridge in the pharmacophore of DHA generates reactive oxygen species (ROS), which increases oxidative stress and causes malarial protein damage via alkylation. .BETA.-ARTESUNATE have potential application as anticancer agent.

Pyronaridine was developed in China and has been registered in that country since the 1980s. Outside China, none of the existing formulations is registered because of the failure to meet international regulatory standards. Pyronaridine is generally active against chloroquine-resistant parasites. Pyronaridine has been investigated for the treatment of Malaria. Pyronaridine targets hematin. Combination of pyronaridine with artesunate was indicated for the blood-stage treatment of both strains of malaria:  P. falciparum and P. vivax.  WHO currently recommends artesunate-pyronaridine in areas where other artemisinin-based combination therapies are failing.

Sodium artesunate, an artemisinin derivative, is used in malaria treatment. Artesunate, has been licensed in Thailand for the treatment of falciparum malaria since 1990. It is a potent antimalarial drug that can reduce parasitaemia by 90% within 24 h of administration. Sodium artesunate was first isolated in China, it is a water soluble antimalaria used clinically in China.

Pyronaridine was developed in China and has been registered in that country since the 1980s. Outside China, none of the existing formulations is registered because of the failure to meet international regulatory standards. Pyronaridine is generally active against chloroquine-resistant parasites. Pyronaridine has been investigated for the treatment of Malaria. Pyronaridine targets hematin. Combination of pyronaridine with artesunate was indicated for the blood-stage treatment of both strains of malaria:  P. falciparum and P. vivax.  WHO currently recommends artesunate-pyronaridine in areas where other artemisinin-based combination therapies are failing.