Molecular effects of co-administering of artemisinin artimalarials with aspirin or vitamin C
The scientific research presented at the 18th Medical Biodefence Conference is related to molecular effects caused by artemisinin antimalarials co-administering with other structurally different drugs that can induce the modulation of the drugs activity. The data about intermolecular interactions of the antimalarials with biomolecules and other medicines are particularly important for the medical practice, in particular, in the case of co-administering of the artemisinin-type drugs with some anti-inflammatory or antioxidant agents. The presented combined model study by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry and DFT quantum chemical calculations was devoted to in vitro examining and structure&energetic characterization of the intermolecular interactions of antimalarial medicines: artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, α-arthemether, arthesunate with molecules of acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) or ascorbic acid (vitamin C). The results revealed a competition between the antimalarial drugs and aspirin (or vitamin C) for stable noncovalent association with molecules of membrane phospholipid dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. Formation of pair stable complexes between molecules of the antimalarials and acetylsalicylic (or ascorbic) acids was also demonstrated. The observed phenomena testify to the potential modulation of artemisin-type drugs` activity already at the stage of transmembrane transfer under their co-administering with aspirin (or vitamin C).