Description
Chloroquine is an aminoquinoline antimalarial that is clinically used to treat malaria. Chloroquine’s anti-parasitic activity stems from its ability to bind heme, resulting in disruption of membrane function and cell lysis. Chloroquine also displays antiviral, immunosuppressive, and anticancer activities. Chloroquine inhibits the replication of many viruses and also inhibits production of IL-6 and TNF-α. Additionally, chloroquine improves the efficacy of co-administered chemotherapeutics and suppresses the induction of autophagy in vitro.
References
Liang X, Tang J, Liang Y, et al. Suppression of autophagy by chloroquine sensitizes 5-fluorouracil-mediated cell death in gallbladder carcinoma cells. Cell Biosci. 2014 Mar 3;4(1):10. PMID: 24581180.
Hempelmann E. Hemozoin biocrystallization in Plasmodium falciparum and the antimalarial activity of crystallization inhibitors. Parasitol Res. 2007 Mar;100(4):671-6. PMID: 17111179.
Savarino A, Boelaert JR, Cassone A, et al. Effects of chloroquine on viral infections: an old drug against today's diseases? Lancet Infect Dis. 2003 Nov;3(11):722-7. PMID: 14592603.
