The influence of the nucleobase (uracyl, U; cytosine, C; adenine, A; guanine, G) on the physicochemical characteristics and in vitro biological activities of SbV-ribonucleoside complexes has been investigated. The 1:1 Sb-U and Sb-C complexes were characterized by NMR and ESI-MS spectroscopies and elemental analysis. The stability constant and the apparent association and dissociation rate constants of 1:1 SbV-U, SbV-C and SbV-A complexes were determined. Although SbV most probably binds via oxygen atoms to the same 2' and 3' positions in the different nucleosides, the ribose conformational changes and the physicochemical characteristics of the complex depend on the nucleobase. The nucleobase had a strong influence on the cytotoxicity against macrophages and the antileishmanial activity of the SbV-ribonucleoside complexes. The SbV-purine complexes were more cytotoxic and more effective against Leishmania chagasi than the SbV-pyrimidine complexes, supporting the model that the interaction of SbV with purine nucleosides may mediate the antileishmanial activity of pentavalent antimonial drugs.