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Home / Drugs / Starting with Q / Quinacrine
 
Quinacrine
 

An acridine derivative formerly widely used as an antimalarial but superseded by chloroquine in recent years. It has also been used as an anthelmintic and in the treatment of giardiasis and malignant effusions. It is used in cell biological experiments as an inhibitor of phospholipase A2. [PubChem]
BrandsAcrichine
Acrinamine
Acriquine
Akrichin
Antimalarina
Atabrine
Atebrin
Atebrine
Erion
Erion Hydrochloride
Haffkinine
Italchine
Mepacrine
Quinactine
CategoriesAntineoplastic Agents
Enzyme Inhibitors
Antiprotozoals
Antimalarials
Anticestodal Agents
Antinematodal Agents
Antihelmintics
PackagersS
h
SynonymsQuinacrine Dihydrochloride

indication

For the treatment of giardiasis and cutaneous leishmaniasis and the management of malignant effusions.

pharmacology

Quinacrine has been used as an antimalarial drug and as an antibiotic. It is used to treat giardiasis, a protozoal infection of the intestinal tract, and certain types of lupus erythematosus, an inflammatory disease that affects the joints, tendons, and other connective tissues and organs. Quinacrine may be injected into the space surrounding the lungs to prevent reoccurrence of pneumothorax. The exact way in which quinacrine works is unknown. It appears to interfere with the parasite's metabolism.

mechanism of action

The exact mechanism of antiparasitic action is unknown; however, quinacrine binds to deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in vitro by intercalation between adjacent base pairs, inhibiting transcription and translation to ribonucleic acid (RNA). Quinacrine does not appear to localize to the nucleus of Giaridia trophozoites, suggesting that DNA binding may not be the primary mechanism of its antimicrobial action. Fluorescence studies using Giardia suggest that the outer membranes may be involved. Quinacrine inhibits succinate oxidation and interferes with electron transport. In addition, by binding to nucleoproteins, quinacrine suppress the lupus erythematous cell factor and acts as a strong inhibitor of cholinesterase.

toxicity

Oral, rat: LD50 = 900 mg/kg; Oral, mouse: LD50 = 1000 mg/kg. Symptoms of overdose include seizures, hypotension, cardiac arrhythmias, and cardiovascular collapse.

absorption

Absorbed rapidly from the gastrointestinal tract following oral administration.

half life

5 to 14 days