Scientists say antibacterial is effective against malaria.
Triclosan halted the growth of malaria parasites when added to cultures of infected human blood cells, according to researchers reporting in the International Journal for Parasitology. In a separate study scientists in India reported that four mice infected with rodent malaria, then given daily injections of triclosan for four days were cured of the disease. Six infected mice that did not receive triclosan died. Scientists think that triclosan works by binding to a specific enzyme, called FabI, that is critical for the manufacture of bacterial and plant fatty acids. By deactivating the enzyme, triclosan essentially kills the parasite.