Mechanism of Action

Pharlumi tablets, a fixed ratio of 1: 6 parts of artemether and lumefantrine, respectively, is an antimalarial agent. Artemether is rapidly metabolized to an active metabolite DHA (dihydroartemisinin). The antimalarial activity of artemether and DHA has been attributed to the endoperoxide fraction. The exact mechanism by which lumefantrine exerts its antimalarial effect is not well defined. The available data suggest that lumefantrine inhibits the formation of β-hematin by forming a complex with hemin. Artemether and lumefantrine have been shown to inhibit the synthesis of nucleic acids and proteins.