J Pharm Belg. 1990 Jul-Aug; 45(4): 268-73.

[In vitro study of the adsorption of chloroquine by an antidiarrheal remedy traditionally used in Africa]

Tsakala M, Tona L, Tamba V, Mawanda B, Vielvoye L, Dufey J, Gillard J.

Mouboumou is a traditional medicine prepared from the inner part of termitarium and is used in traditional medicine in Zaire. In tropical diseases, antimalarial drugs are often used simultaneously with antidiarrheal absorbent drugs, which might, by their adsorbent properties, compromise the efficacy of the antimalarial treatment. The present in vitro study has allowed to determine the adsorption characteristics of chloroquine on Mouboumou; kaopectate was used a reference adsorbent. The adsorption of chloroquine by these two adsorbents is very important (from 30 to 60%) and fits quite well in with the Langmuir's relation. A decrease of bioavailability of chloroquine, due to the adsorption phenomena, might be observed in vivo and could contraindicate the concomitant administration of these drugs.