A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites

Abstract Despite the substantial global health and economic burden of apicomplexan parasites in humans and livestock, treatment options remain limited. Natural products have long played an important role in combating these diseases, offering diverse chemical structures and bioactive compounds. This...

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Main Authors: Emma Y. Mao, Stephen W. Page, Brad E. Sleebs, Maria R. Gancheva, Danny W. Wilson
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:npj Antimicrobials and Resistance
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-025-00119-x
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author Emma Y. Mao
Stephen W. Page
Brad E. Sleebs
Maria R. Gancheva
Danny W. Wilson
author_facet Emma Y. Mao
Stephen W. Page
Brad E. Sleebs
Maria R. Gancheva
Danny W. Wilson
author_sort Emma Y. Mao
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Despite the substantial global health and economic burden of apicomplexan parasites in humans and livestock, treatment options remain limited. Natural products have long played an important role in combating these diseases, offering diverse chemical structures and bioactive compounds. This review summarises past and present natural-product-based therapies for six economically significant apicomplexans and explores the potential of revisiting natural products as a source of next-generation treatments.
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spelling doaj-art-7fc7d0cae23841f38e4584de5cfa405c2025-08-20T02:05:16ZengNature Portfolionpj Antimicrobials and Resistance2731-87452025-06-013111510.1038/s44259-025-00119-xA review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasitesEmma Y. Mao0Stephen W. Page1Brad E. Sleebs2Maria R. Gancheva3Danny W. Wilson4Research Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of AdelaideNeoculi Pty Ltd.Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchResearch Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of AdelaideResearch Centre for Infectious Diseases, School of Biological Sciences, The University of AdelaideAbstract Despite the substantial global health and economic burden of apicomplexan parasites in humans and livestock, treatment options remain limited. Natural products have long played an important role in combating these diseases, offering diverse chemical structures and bioactive compounds. This review summarises past and present natural-product-based therapies for six economically significant apicomplexans and explores the potential of revisiting natural products as a source of next-generation treatments.https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-025-00119-x
spellingShingle Emma Y. Mao
Stephen W. Page
Brad E. Sleebs
Maria R. Gancheva
Danny W. Wilson
A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
npj Antimicrobials and Resistance
title A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
title_full A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
title_fullStr A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
title_full_unstemmed A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
title_short A review of natural products as a source of next-generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
title_sort review of natural products as a source of next generation drugs against apicomplexan parasites
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s44259-025-00119-x
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