Efficacy of the Russian anthelmintic agent trichlorophen

Experiments have established the high efficacy of combinations of the micronized dosage form of trichlorophen, with albendazole or medamine in treating trichocephaliasis (its causative agent being Trichocephalus muris) in DBA/2st mice and that of trichlorophen in combination with azinox or fenasal in outbred albino mice with hymenolepiasis (its causative agent being Hymenolepis nana). These combinations are promising in treating patients with cestodosis and nemadosis, respectively.     

Influence of tetramisole on the induction of experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE)

Guinea pigs were sensitized with either 40 or 80 micrograms myelin basic protein (MBP) in CFA. Animals received tetramisole (TM) i.p. 10 or 20 mg either before or after sensitisation. A tendency for increased clinical incidence of EAE was shown in animals treated with 10 mg TM after sensitisation with 80 microgram MBP, but the same was not true for animals treated with 20 mg TM after inoculation with 40 micrograms MBP. Application of TM before sensitisation with MBP does not influence the induction of EAE.     

A short review of the anthelmintic role of Mirazid

Mirazid? is a patented preparation from a plant that had been used in folk medicine since ancient Egyptians (Myrrh). It was registered in Egypt for the treatment of schistosomiasis and fascioliasis. Over 32 independent studies for efficacy of Mirazid had been reviewed and their results analyzed. The majority of these studies reported higher than 90% cure rates, that even higher in mixed than single trematodal infections in humans and in farm animals. Only two groups of investigators reported lower cure rates as they used lower doses and estimated cure rates at a shorter period from treatment than recommended by innovators.     

驱虫治疗土源性线虫病效果观察

土源性线虫病在我县农村广泛流行 ,为在较短时间内达到一定的控制效果 ,且能为群众接受 ,节省人力物力 ,较易开展此项工作 ,本研究于 1996～ 1998年在全县 18个镇乡各设一观察点 ,进行驱虫治疗土源性线虫病效果观察 ,结果报告如下。1　观察点选择和方法1.1　观察点选择　全县 18个镇乡各选择 1个 40 0人左右的行政村为观察点 ,并了解观察点的基本情况。1.2　感染度和感染率调查　应用改良加藤厚涂片法测定钩虫、鞭虫感染度 ,蛔虫卵阳性者每 10人计数虫卵 1人 ,并分别计数受精与未受精卵 ,12周岁以下儿童加用透明胶纸肛拭法检查蛲虫卵 ,要求…     

Activity of the anthelmintic benzimidazoles against Giardia lamblia in vitro

In vitro growth of the protozoan parasite Giardia lamblia was highly sensitive to certain anthelmintic benzimidazoles. Albendazole and mebendazole were 30- to 50-fold more active than metronidazole and 4- to 40-fold more active than quinacrine. Thiabendazole, a noncarbamate benzimidazole, was less active. Since lack of intestinal absorption makes mebendazole an attractive new antigiardial agent, its in vitro activity was further characterized. At low concentrations (0.05 micrograms/ml) mebendazole had a static effect on G. lamblia growth; however, lethal activity was observed at a concentration fivefold lower (0.3 micrograms/ml) than necessary for the cidal agent metronidazole. Two observations are consistent with a microtubule target for mebendazole. First, attachment of cells to the culture tube, mediated by the ventral disk and flagella, was rapidly disrupted by mebendazole treatment. Second, the characteristic cell structure was grossly distorted by treatment. No mebendazole-resistant G. lamblia were detected in a population of 10(8) cells.     

Activity of the anthelmintic agent trichlorophen on the models of human helminthiasis

Trials of trichlorophen have shown its high efficacy on models of cestode infections: hymenolepiasis (at the adult and cysticercoid stages of development on three types of animals: outbred albino mice, albino rats and golden hamsters), preimaginal echinococciasis alveolaris, larval alveolar echinococciasis (at the early stage of development of the parasite in experiments on cotton rats). The high nematodical activity of trichlorophen was first found on models of trichocephaliasis in DBA/2y mice, nippostrongyloidiasis (in in vitro experiments), and aspiculuriasis in outbred mice. The agent proved to be ineffective at the tissue developmental stage of Hymenolepsis nana (H. nana), the dwarf tapeworm, in albino mice, during experimental opisthorchiasis in golden hamsters. It showed a low efficacy in treating trichinosis in outbred albino mice. Unlike carbamatebenzimidazoles, trichlorophen was inactive at the tissue stage of H. nana; it exerted no effects on the eggs of a dwarf tapeworm in trichinosis. Trichlorophen was also inactive in treating experimental opisthorchiasis in golden hamsters.     

Repositioning of the anthelmintic drug mebendazole for the treatment for colon cancer

Purpose

In the present study, we screened a compound library containing 1,600 clinically used compounds with the aim to identify compounds, which potentially could be repositioned for colon cancer therapy.

Methods

Two established colon cancer cell lines were tested using the fluorometric microculture cytotoxicity assay (FMCA). For compound comparison connectivity map (CMAP) analysis, NCI 60 data mining and protein kinase binding measurements were performed.

Results

Sixty-eight compounds were defined as hits with activity in both of these cell lines (<40 % cell survival compared with control) at 10 μM drug concentration. Analysis of chemical similarity of the hit compounds revealed several distinct clusters, among them the antiparasitic benzimidazole group. Two of these compounds, mebendazole (MBZ) and albendazole (ABZ) are registered for human use. Data from the NCI 60 cell line panel revealed only modest correlation between MBZ and ABZ, indicating differences in mechanism of action. This was further supported when gene expression signatures were compared in the CMAP database; ABZ ranked very low when MBZ was used as the query signature. Furthermore, MBZ, but not ABZ, was found to significantly interact with several protein kinases including BCR–ABL and BRAF. Analysis of the diagnosis-specific activity of MBZ showed activity in 80 % of the colon cancer cell lines in the NCI 60 panel. Three additional colon cancer cell lines and three cell models with non-malignant phenotypes were subsequently tested, confirming selective colon cancer activity of MBZ.

Conclusion

MBZ seemingly has repositioning potential for colorectal cancer therapy.