Intraerythrocytic stages of Plasmodium falciparum biosynthesize vitamin E

► The malaria parasite P. falciparum biosynthesizes vitamin E. ► P. falciparum is the first non-photosynthetic organism that biosynthesizes vitamin E. ► Usnic acid, an inhibitor of hydroxyphenylpyruvate dioxygenase, inhibits the plasmodial biosynthesis of vitamin E. ► In vitro cultured parasites are inhibited by usnic acid and this is reverted by exogenous vitamin E. ► Vitamin E possibly participates in the prevention of lipoperoxidation in the malaria parasite.