Figure 3.

Proposed model for the mechanism and target localization of the antimalarial drugs (a and b) the 4-aminoquinolones such as chloroquine and amodiaquine and the amino alcohol derivatives such as mefloquine, quinine binds to the β-hematin molecule and inhibits the heme detoxification pathway in the parasiteæs digestive vacuole. (c) The antifolate derivatives target the Phdhps and Plasmodium falciparum bifunctional dihydrofolate reductase-thymidylate synthase gene involved in the folate biosynthesis in the cytoplasm of the parasite. (d) Atovaquone binds to the cytochrome b and interferes the electron transport mechanism in the mitochondria of the parasite