The combined effect of iron chelators and classical antimalarials on the in-vitro growth of Plasmodium falciparum.

The emergence of drug resistant malaria has prompted an intensified search for new antimalarials or combinations of such drugs. Iron chelating agents may represent a new approach to antimalarial treatment and could possibly be used in combination with classical antimalarials. Plasmodium falciparum (FCR-3) strain used at a 1% haematocrit, was subjected to various combinations of the classic antimalarials (chloroquine, pyrimethamine and quinine) and iron chelating agents (desferrioxamine and 2,2'-bipyridyl) in vitro. Tritiated hypoxanthine incorporation was used to determine the growth of the malarial parasites. The iron chelating agents and classic antimalarials when tested alone were found to inhibit the growth of the late stages of the parasite. The combination of the classic antimalarials and iron chelating agents resulted in additive effects on the in-vitro growth of P. falciparum.