Fluoxetine potentiates chloroquine and mefloquine effect on multidrug-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in vitro

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2006 Oct;59(5):329-31.

Abstract

Fluoxetine (FLX), a P-glycoprotein inhibitor with antimalarial activity, is promising candidate for reversing chloroquine/mefloquine (CQ/MQ) resistance. The Dd2 strain of CQ- and MQ-resistant Plasmodium falciparum was synchronized and assayed with various concentrations of CQ/MQ individually and in combination with FLX or verapamil (VPL). Our results indicated the 50% inhibitory concentration values of CQ and MQ were greatly lowered when FLX was used simultaneously. Isobolograms indicated that CQ-FLX combinations are more synergistic (mean fractional inhibitory concentration [FIC] index 0.55) than MQ-FLX (mean FIC index 0.64), and their synergistic effect was better than or at par with CQ-VPL (mean FIC index 0.88) and MQ-VPL (mean FIC index 0.60) combinations. We conclude that the FLX potentiates the CQ and MQ response on multidrug-resistant P. falciparum at clinically achievable concentrations.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antimalarials / pharmacology*
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Chloroquine / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple
  • Drug Synergism
  • Erythrocytes / parasitology
  • Fluoxetine / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Inhibitory Concentration 50
  • Malaria, Falciparum / parasitology*
  • Mefloquine / pharmacology*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / drug effects*
  • Plasmodium falciparum / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Antimalarials
  • Fluoxetine
  • Chloroquine
  • Mefloquine