[Action of chloroquine on glutathione metabolism in erythrocytes parasitized by Plasmodium berghei].

Chloroquine acts on erythrocytes parasitized by a P. berghei sensitive strain, inducing a dramatic decrease of the intra erythrocytic reduced glutathione. This reduction follows a decrease of the glutathione reductase activity. Contrarily when erythrocytes are parasitized by a P. berghei resistant strain neither the intra erythrocytic reduced glutathione nor the glutathione reductase activity are modified by the action of chloroquine. Glutathione metabolism could be the main target of action of chloroquine in malaria infection.