Killing of blood-stage murine malaria parasites by hydrogen peroxide

Abstract

Both nonlethal Plasmodium yoelii and lethal Plasmodium berghei were killed in vitro by hydrogen peroxide at concentrations as low as 10-5 M. Higher concentrations were required in the presence of added normal erythrocytes. Injection of hydrogen peroxide in vivo significantly reduced P. yoelii parasitemia but had less effect on P. berghei.