Ecstasy pills
IN PHOTO: Ecstasy pills, which contain MDMA as their main chemical, are pictured in this undated handout photo courtesy of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Molly is the street name for a drug that is commonly believed to be the pure powder form of the banned substance known as MDMA, the main chemical in ecstasy. Reuters/USDEA/Handout

A recent study has revealed that one of the most popular drugs for treatment of erectile dysfunction in males, viagra, can help prevent the spread of the malarial parasite. According to the team of French and English scientists, the popular “blue pills” can efficiently stop the malarial parasite from being transmitted from infected humans to the mosquitoes who carry the parasite.

In humans tested positive for the malarial parasite, viagra works by increasing the stiffness of the infected erythrocytes, thus facilitating removal of such cells from the blood stream. The removal of the infected blood cells from the circulatory system, thus leaves no room for the parasite to be carried and transmitted to another healthy individual through mosquito bite.

During the study, the team of international researchers found that the stiffening in the erythrocytes resulted in loss of flexibility in the cell. The inflexible cells, thus got trapped in the spleen, an organ which acts as a filter in the human body. Viagra thus helps eliminate parasite-infected cells from the human body, however, the individual still suffers from malaria. The drug, therefore, only helps curb the further infection cycle by stopping the transmission.

A parasite called Plasmodium falciparum is known to cause malaria in humans. It is one of the toughest parasites that cannot be treated easily. A study conducted by various researchers in the recent past claims that the single-celled parasite is evolving extensively to become resistant to common anti-malarial drugs.

In such a scenario, the recent research of using viagra to control transmission of malarial parasite seems promising. So far, the research has shown positive results only for the tests performed in the test tubes. The researchers are planning to expand the research to the animals, and if found successful, the medication could actually be commercialized for human use.

The study findings have been published in the journal PLOS Pathogens.

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