Synthesis,characterization and in vitro antiprotozoal studies of iron(III) complexes of some antimalarial drugs

We present the synthesis, characterization and in vitro antiplasmodial and antitrypanosomal studies of iron(III) complexes of amodiaquine, trimethoprim and pyrimethamine. The complexes have been characterized by elemental analyses, electronic and IR spectroscopy and room temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements. The spectra are consistent with octahedral geometry around the metal ions. The complexes were tested for in vitro activity against cultures of Plasmodium falciparum, Tripanosoma brucei rhodosiense, L. donovani and Tripanosoma cruzi. One of the complexes showed enhanced activity of about 8.4 times more than chloroquine against the resistant strain of Plasmodium falciparum.