NCIt definition : The phosphate salt of chloroquine, a quinoline compound with antimalarial and anti-inflammatory
properties. Chloroquine is the most widely used drug against malaria, except for those
cases caused by chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum. Although the mechanism
of action is not fully understood, chloroquine is shown to inhibit the parasitic enzyme
heme polymerase that converts the toxic heme into non-toxic hemazoin, thereby resulting
in the accumulation of toxic heme within the parasite. Chloroquine may also interfere
with the biosynthesis of nucleic acids.;