Citalopram enhances the activity of chloroquine in resistant plasmodium in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Citalopram, is an extremely potent inhibitor of neuronal serotonin reuptake. It is structurally unrelated to other antidepressants, but it contains the chemical features associated with reversal of drug resistance and exhibits minimal cardiotoxic side effects and fewer of the anticholinergic and adrenolytic side effects associated with other psychotropic agents. Sensitivity tests to citalopram alone and in combination with chloroquine were performed against chloroquine-resistant and chloroquine-sensitive strains of Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium chabaudi. Citalopram alone showed intrinsic activity against the chloroquine- resistant strains of P. falciparum (IC50 = 1.51 ± .6 μM) but onl..