Glucantime susceptibility of Leishmania promastigotes under variable growth conditions.

Growth inhibition of Leishmania promastigotes by glucantime was compared in three different media. Glucantime inhibited the growth of Leishmania cultured in complex medium but did not affect parasite growth when added to cells cultured in defined or semi-defined media. Supplementation of the complex medium with biopterin partially reversed the glucantime effect in sensitive strains, although the addition of folic acid or oleic acid did not alter the activity of glucantime. Differences in fatty acid composition were observed between strains showing different degrees of glucantime susceptibility.