Isobologram Curve of Leishmanicidal Effects of Amiodarone and Ketoconazole

Abstract

Background: Leishmaniasis is a zoonotic parasitic infection with a worldwide distribution. Ergosterol and stigmasterol, equivalent to mammalian cholesterol, are the key sterols in Leishmania species, and thus can be used as proper targets for drugs. Objective: Because amiodarone (AMD) and ketoconazole (KTZ) inhibit the sterol biosynthesis in trypanosomatid parasites, the present study aimed at investigating the effects of AMD and KTZ, acting individually or in combination, against L. infantum promastigotes and axenic amastigotes. Methods: For each stage, drugs were added to the growth medium 24 hours after starting the cultures with 10 6 parasites/mL. Repli-