Heme (Plasmodium falciparum)

Heme in *Plasmodium falciparum* refers to iron protoporphyrin IX, a cofactor found in numerous essential enzymes, including cytochromes, and a toxic byproduct generated during the digestion of host hemoglobin by blood-stage parasites. Excess free heme is highly reactive and can damage cellular components through oxidative mechanisms. To overcome this, *P. falciparum* detoxifies heme by converting it to hemozoin (malaria pigment) via specialized proteins such as heme detoxification protein (HDP). Antimalarial drugs like chloroquine work by disrupting this detoxification process, resulting in heme accumulation and death of the parasite

Other names

heminferriprotoporphyrin IXPf hememalaria heme

Inhibition of heme polymerization (e.g., chloroquine, mefloquine, quinidine block conversion of toxic free heme to inert hemozoin) Formation of heme–drug complexes, leading to toxic heme accumulation