Biomaterial Database

Qinghaosu does not affect the major thermotropic phase transition in model membranes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine. 1989

P M Browning, and R H Bisby

Department of Biological Sciences, University of Salford, U.K.

The effect of the antimalarial agent qinghaosu (artemisinin) on the major thermotropic phase transition in bilayer membranes of dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine has been studied by differential scanning calorimetry and by the use of fluorescent probes (pyrene excimer formation and depolarization of diphenylhexatriene fluorescence). Addition of up to 40 mol% qinghaosu to dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine bilayer caused no observable effect on the temperature or enthalpy of the phase transition. The results suggest that the antimalarial action of qinghaosu is not due to a direct effect on the lipid structure of the parasite membrane.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008051	Lipid Bilayers	Layers of lipid molecules which are two molecules thick. Bilayer systems are frequently studied as models of biological membranes.	Bilayers, Lipid,Bilayer, Lipid,Lipid Bilayer
D002152	Calorimetry, Differential Scanning	Differential thermal analysis in which the sample compartment of the apparatus is a differential calorimeter, allowing an exact measure of the heat of transition independent of the specific heat, thermal conductivity, and other variables of the sample.	Differential Thermal Analysis, Calorimetric,Calorimetric Differential Thermal Analysis,Differential Scanning Calorimetry,Scanning Calorimetry, Differential
D005456	Fluorescent Dyes	Chemicals that emit light after excitation by light. The wave length of the emitted light is usually longer than that of the incident light. Fluorochromes are substances that cause fluorescence in other substances, i.e., dyes used to mark or label other compounds with fluorescent tags.	Flourescent Agent,Fluorescent Dye,Fluorescent Probe,Fluorescent Probes,Fluorochrome,Fluorochromes,Fluorogenic Substrates,Fluorescence Agents,Fluorescent Agents,Fluorogenic Substrate,Agents, Fluorescence,Agents, Fluorescent,Dyes, Fluorescent,Probes, Fluorescent,Substrates, Fluorogenic
D000962	Antimalarials	Agents used in the treatment of malaria. They are usually classified on the basis of their action against plasmodia at different stages in their life cycle in the human. (From AMA, Drug Evaluations Annual, 1992, p1585)	Anti-Malarial,Antimalarial,Antimalarial Agent,Antimalarial Drug,Anti-Malarials,Antimalarial Agents,Antimalarial Drugs,Agent, Antimalarial,Agents, Antimalarial,Anti Malarial,Anti Malarials,Drug, Antimalarial,Drugs, Antimalarial
D012717	Sesquiterpenes	Fifteen-carbon compounds formed from three isoprenoid units with general formula C15H24.	Farnesanes,Farnesene,Farnesenes,Sesquiterpene,Sesquiterpene Derivatives,Sesquiterpenoid,Sesquiterpenoids,Derivatives, Sesquiterpene
D013816	Thermodynamics	A rigorously mathematical analysis of energy relationships (heat, work, temperature, and equilibrium). It describes systems whose states are determined by thermal parameters, such as temperature, in addition to mechanical and electromagnetic parameters. (From Hawley's Condensed Chemical Dictionary, 12th ed)	Thermodynamic
D015060	1,2-Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine	Synthetic phospholipid used in liposomes and lipid bilayers to study biological membranes. It is also a major constituent of PULMONARY SURFACTANTS.	Dipalmitoyllecithin,1,2-Dihexadecyl-sn-Glycerophosphocholine,1,2-Dipalmitoyl-Glycerophosphocholine,Dipalmitoyl Phosphatidylcholine,Dipalmitoylglycerophosphocholine,Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine,1,2 Dihexadecyl sn Glycerophosphocholine,1,2 Dipalmitoyl Glycerophosphocholine,1,2 Dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine,Phosphatidylcholine, Dipalmitoyl
D037621	Artemisinins	A group of SESQUITERPENES and their analogs that contain a peroxide group (PEROXIDES) within an oxepin ring (OXEPINS).