Ga(III)protoporphyrin-IX, a model for interporphyrin interactions in malaria pigment, possesses potent antibacterial effects against gram-negative, gram-positive, and acid-fast bacteria. It exhibits high solubility in methanol (MeOH) and serves as a malarial pigment analogue for drug development, as well as a potential antibacterial agent.

Ga(III)protoporphyrin-IX has also been shown to bind to heme containing proteins and enzymes when it is included in the cellular growth medium of the Grampositive bacteria Enterococcus faecalis which does not depend on heme for cell growth. Ga(III)protoporphyrin-IX has shown to be a suitable mimic of heme and has potential applications in heme replacement/substitution[1].