Plasmodium falciparum remains the most virulent parasite that causes high rate of morbidity and mortality among children and pregnant women. Prevention and treatment of malaria mainly rely on the use of synthetic drugs. Unfortunately, the parasite has developed resistance to all classes of antimalarial drugs. Therefore this review aimed at describing various antimalarial drugs and their resistance status, together with the common biomarkers of resistance. Apart from some physiological survival strategies adopted by the parasite to avoid the action of most drugs, there are several genetic mutations that are associated with resistant development by the parasite in some of the adverse drug reaction genes of the parasite which include, Multidrug Resistance Protein (PFMDR1),P.falciparum Chloroquine Resistance Transporter (PfCRT), Dihydropteroate Synthase (DHPS), Dihydrofolate Reductase (DHFR) and K13 Propeller gene.
Keywords: Plasmodium falciparum, Antimalarial drug, Drug resistance, Malaria,
