antimony

Antimony is a metalloid element (atomic number 51, symbol Sb) that has been historically used in medicine, primarily in the form of its compounds. While metallic antimony itself was once used as a cathartic agent (notably as the "antimony pill" for purging), modern medicinal use centers on its compounds, especially pentavalent and trivalent forms. Antimonial drugs such as sodium stibogluconate and meglumine antimoniate are small molecule pharmaceuticals used to treat protozoal infections like leishmaniasis. The mechanism of action for these compounds involves interference with parasite metabolism; for example, sodium stibogluconate targets DNA topoisomerase 1 in Leishmania species. Antimony itself is not widely used directly as a drug today but remains an investigational substance and precursor to active pharmaceutical ingredients[2][3][5][8].

Other names

antimonio