Bulaquine

BeschreibungBulaquine is a derivative of primaquine that was introduced in India in combination with chloroquine as a treatment against malaria. The compound is prepared by condensation of primaquine with 3-acetyl-y-butyrolactone in presence of a catalytic amount of base. Bulaquine kills the latent tissue stage (hypnozoites) of the parasite Plasmodium vivax accumulated in the liver and responsible for relapses. Its efficient anti-relapse activity was demonstrated against sporozoite induced Plasmodium cynomolgi infection in rhesus monkey. Bulaquine is safer than primaquine, the preceding candidate against malaria relapse. Although it is stable at pH 7-8, bulaquine is hydrolyzed to primaquine under acidic conditions.