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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, November 2000, p. 3107-3111, Vol. 44, No. 11
Departments of Pathology and Microbiology-Immunology,
Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, Illinois
60611-3008,1 and Department of Biology,
Loyola University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
606262
Received 20 June 2000/Returned for modification 2 August
2000/Accepted 24 August 2000
Our previous studies have shown that riboflavin has activity
against Plasmodium falciparum asexual-stage parasites in
vitro. In the present study we examine the gametocytocidal activity of riboflavin and the interaction of riboflavin with some commonly used
antimalarial drugs against the asexual forms of P. falciparum in vitro. The addition of riboflavin to P. falciparum cultures killed gametocytes at all stages, even those
at late stages (III to V), which are not affected by many of the
commonly used antimalarials. Combinations of riboflavin with
mefloquine, pyrimethamine, and quinine showed a marked potentiation of
the activities of these drugs against asexual-stage parasites in vitro.
The combination of riboflavin with artemisinin was additive, while that
with chloroquine was mildly antagonistic. High doses of riboflavin are
used clinically to treat several inborn errors of metabolism with no
adverse side effects. Its efficacy in combination with standard
antimalarial drugs in treating and preventing the transmission of
P. falciparum malaria can therefore be evaluated in humans.
0066-4804/00/$04.00+0
Copyright © 2000, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Gametocytocidal Activity and Synergistic
Interactions of Riboflavin with Standard Antimalarial Drugs against
Growth of Plasmodium falciparum In Vitro
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Pathology, Northwestern University Medical School, 303 E. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60611-3008. Phone: (312) 503-1443. Fax: (312) 503-0281. E-mail: t-akompong{at}nwu.edu.
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