Antimony (Sb) (Sb)

Antimony is a chemical element (symbol Sb, atomic number 51) and a metalloid that has been used medicinally for centuries, primarily as a treatment for leishmaniasis [8, 13]. In modern pharmacology, it is administered as pentavalent antimonial prodrugs, such as sodium stibogluconate and meglumine antimoniate, which are reduced to the active trivalent form (SbIII) within the target parasite [2, 10]. The primary mechanism of action involves the inhibition of trypanothione reductase, an essential enzyme for the parasite's redox balance, leading to oxidative stress and cell death [1, 8]. Additionally, antimony interferes with energy metabolism by inhibiting phosphofructokinase and may impair DNA replication through the inhibition of topoisomerase I [2, 5]. Beyond its antiparasitic role, antimony compounds are being investigated for their ability to inhibit human protein tyrosine phosphatases like SHP-1, which could have applications in cancer immunotherapy [9, 14]. Despite its efficacy, the therapeutic use of antimony is constrained by significant systemic toxicities, including cardiotoxicity and pancreatitis, and the emergence of widespread drug resistance in endemic regions [8, 16].

Other names

StibiumAntimony(III)Antimony(V)Trivalent antimonyPentavalent antimony