MALARIA AND ARTEMISININ RESISTANCE: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS

Malaria remains a significant contributor to mortality and morbidity in the majority of low- and middle-income regions. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends artemisinin or one of its derivatives as first-line therapy for all cases of malaria, usually in combination with a long-lasting partner drug. However, one year after WHO's final recommendation for the global use of ACTs, the emergence of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum was observed in the border regions of Thailand and Cambodia. In the subsequent decade, an artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum strain spread from western Cambodia to the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). In 2014, new resistance was reported in southern Laos, central Myanmar, and North Eastern Cambodia. The Plasmodium falciparum strains that are resistant not only to the artemisinin component, but also to partner drugs (such as piperaquine), currently demonstrating the efficacy of first-line malaria treatment with Plasmodium falciparum and internationally recognized standards for eliminating malaria. It threatens the overall success of the effort. A systematic literature review was carried out, as well as bibliometric analysis. The articles will be obtained by searching MEDLINE through PubMed, GOOGLE SCHOLAR, and BIOMED CENTRAL. The PRISMA-P statement will be used to guide the systematic literature review's execution and reporting. The VOS viewer application was used for the bibliometric analysis. The current scientific review and bibliometric analysis, encompasses publications from 2016 to 2022 and 2012 to 2022 respectively. For the systematic review, 296 were considered. 130 articles were removed from consideration because they did not meet the inclusion criteria, and 29 articles were re-evaluated for eligibility. Finally, only 11 of the articles were chosen for this review after being evaluated. A total of 162 papers that discussed the terms artemisinin and antimalarial resistance for the examined period (2012–2022) was used. Foe the bibliometric analysis, 169 articles were considered. The review analysis focused on the resistance of malarial parasite to artemisinin. Various studies analysed noted different markers conferring artemisinin resistance. K13 gene (a marker of artemisinin resistance). K13 gene is the most notable gene marker conferring artemisinin resistance. The prescence of R561H mutation and A675V or C469Y alleles of the kelch13 gene mutations were associated with increased parasite clearance half-life. Pfk13 C580Y-associated mutations result in prolonged parasite clearance time. The consolidated are of research was in Africa and Asia where the resistance to artemisinin is prevalent, The purpose of the review is to determine the extent of artemisinin resistance reversal in malaria-endemic countries. The evidence generated by this review will help policymakers make decisions about the potential reconsideration of artemisinin in malaria treatment.