Wide applications of Chloroquine other than antimalarial

Abstract

Chloroquine (CQ) was and still considered as the most common agent in the treatment and prophylaxis of malaria, it also possesses many different pharmacological and biological activities that make it able to be used as a therapy or adjuvant therapy for many types of diseases. CQ exhibits anticancer activity alone or as adjuvants with other agents against many kinds of tumors. Its activities also were approved as an anti-inflammatory agent in rheumatoid and other autoimmune diseases like systemic lupus and rheumatic arthritis. Its’ important role in the improvement of many metabolic disorders like hypertension, hyperglycemia, and lipid profile disturbances was also established. CQ can act against different microbial infections such as many types of viruses, bacteria and fungus by different mechanisms of action. Furthermore, its dermatological role in the treatment of many skin diseases was demonstrated. Recently, CQ showed a very responsive role in curing and prevention of the covoid-19 virus. This review summarizes intensively the multiple therapeutic applications of CQ and discusses the possible mechanisms of action for these applications.