Inhibitory effect of novel iron chelator, 1-(N-acetyl-6-aminohexyl)-3-hydroxy-2-methylpyridin-4-one (CM1) and green tea extract on growth of Plasmodium falciparum

Background

Iron is an essential micronutrient required by all living organisms including malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.) for many biochemical reactions, especially growth and multiplication processes. Therefore, the malaria parasites needs to take up the iron from outside or/and inside the parasitized red blood cells (PRBC). Iron chelators are widely used for treatment of thalassemia-related iron overload and also inhibit parasite growth at levels which are non-toxic to mammalian cells.

Materials and methods

The inhibitory effect of 1-(N-acetyl-6-amino-hexyl)-3-hydroxypyridin-4-one (CM1) and green tea extract (GTE) on the growth of malaria parasite P. falciparum was investigated compared with standard chelators including desferrioxamine (DFO), deferiprone (DFP) and deferasirox (DFX). A flow cytometric technique was used to enumerate the PRBC stained with SYBR Green I fluorescent dye. Labile iron pool (LIP) was assayed using calcein-acetomethoxy (Calcein-AM) fluorescent method.

Results

The IC₅₀ values of DFO, GTE, CM1, DFX and DFP against P. falciparum were 14.09, 21.11, 35.14, 44.71 and 58.25 μM, respectively. Importantly, CM1 was more effective in reducing LIP level in the P. falciparum culture than DFP (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

CM1 and GTE exhibit anti-malarial activity. They could interfere with uptake of exogenous iron or deplete intracellular labile iron in malaria parasites, leading to inhibition of their growth.