Ketoconazole, a cytochrome P450 inhibitor can potentiate the antimalarial action of α/β arteether against MDR Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis

► Ketoconazole, an inhibitor of CYP3A4 enhanced the antimalarial potential of α/β arteether against Plasmodium falciparum 3D7. ► This combination has also produced the synergistic antimalarial activity against multi drug resistant malaria parasite Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis in Swiss mice. ► Combined treatment cured 100% of infected mice as compared to the 60 and 0% with alone arteether and ketoconazole, respectively. ► Present study suggests that ketoconazole facilitate the favorable bioavailability of arteether by inhibiting CYP which is a metabolizing enzyme for arteether as well as through the moderate antiplasmodial action of ketoconazole itself.