The effect of liposome-entrapped desferrioxamine on Leishmania donovani in vitro.
Desferrioxamine was tested in vitro for activity against promastigotes of Leishmania donovani. In addition, the effects of liposome-encapsulated desferrioxamine and free desferrioxamine on macrophages infected with amastigotes of L. donovani were compared. The drug was added to the culture medium for three days, and the results were compared with several controls; the drug solvent, empty liposomes, and desferrioxamine which had been re-ferrated with an equimolar concentration of ferric ammonium sulphate. Desferrioxamine was found to be inactive against growing promastigotes at the highest concentration used, 50 micrograms ml-1. On the other hand, 44% and 60% of amastigotes were eliminated when macrophages infected with L. donovani were exposed to 50 micrograms ml-1 of free or liposome-encapsulated desferrioxamine respectively.
Segovia
M
M
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Spain.
Navarro
A
A
Artero
J M
JM
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004337:Drug Carriers; D007893:Leishmania donovani / Q000187:drug effects*; D008081:Liposomes; D008264:Macrophages / Q000469:parasitology*; D051379:Mice
D004337:Drug Carriers; D008081:Liposomes; D003676:Deferoxamine