Past

Since the isolation in 1820 of quinine, the first chemically purified effective treatment for malaria, a number of other natural and synthetic compounds have been developed (Fig. 1). However, as time passed, strains of the parasite began to show signs of resistance towards these drugs, rendering them less effective. Accordingly, their use has ceased or is restricted to particular situations.

Fig. 1

Well-known anti-malarial medicines discovered between 1820 and the 1980s. Some are still used today while some have been rendered ineffective due to the development of resistant strains or the emergence of undesirable side effects. Dates of first reported resistance are shown in brackets

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