A Mini-Review on Iron Chelating Agents as a Promising Therapeutic Target in Treatment of Leishmaniasis

There is a high prevalence of infections caused by Leishmania parasites and increasing rate of drug resistance. Lack of successful treatment with existing drugs calls for new therapeutic approaches. The main strategy in treatment of leishmaniasis is creating apoptosis and eliminating different forms of the parasite. So far, numerous drugs with specific mechanisms including 14-α-demethylase enzyme inhibition, inhibition of tubulin polymerization and cell division, radical formation, inhibiting the glycolytic and hydrolysis of fatty acids, and reducing the parasite's access to energy reserves such as ATP have been introduced. Moreover, different mineral compounds especially iron are needed for metabolism and survival of the parasite. This review article introduces iron-chelating compounds as a new therapeutic approach in treatment of leishmaniasis.