Chloroquine is an antimalarial drug used to treat susceptible infections with P. vivax, P. malariae, P. ovale, and P. falciparum. It is also used for second line treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. Chloroquine inhibits the action of heme polymerase, which causes the buildup of toxic heme in Plasmodium species, preventing the conversion of heme to hemazoin. Plasmodium species continue to accumulate toxic heme, killing the parasite. Chloroquine passively diffuses through cell membranes and into endosomes, lysosomes, and Golgi vesicles; where it becomes protonated, trapping the chloroquine in the organelle and raising the surrounding pH. The raised pH in endosomes, prevent virus particles from utilizing their activity for fusion and entry into the cell.

Chloroquine Pathway References