Sodium stibogluconate, metronidazole and dehydroemetine Roche were tested for their in vitro action on the mobility, morphology and survival of promastigotes of Leishmania donovani. At low concentrations, sodium stibogluconate, the drug of choice for kala azar treatment in Iraq proved to be poorly effective in the prevention of promastigotes growth in vitro. On the other hand, both metronidazole and dehydroemetine Roche at low concentrations were highly effective in the prevention of promastigotes of L. donovani growth in vitro. 3.51 ×102, 9.34 and 3.13 mmol of sodium stibogluconate, metronidazole and dehydroemetine, respectively, were required to show the same effect in vitro.