Effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection and treatment on drug metabolizing enzymes

The effect of Schistosoma mansoni infection on drug-metabolizing enzymes was investigated before and after treatment of S. mansoni-infected male albino mice with the antibilharzial drug praziquantel (CAS 55268-74-1). The drug was given in a total dose of 1000 mg/kg, and was administered at 500 mg/kg of body weight for two consecutive days each of 500 mg/kg of body weight. The drug was given 49 days after infection with 80 Egyptian strains of S. mansoni cercariae/mouse. The hepatic content of cytochrome P-450, cytochrome b-5 and NADPH cytochrome P-450 reductase were determined at 4, 8, 24, 72 h, one and two weeks after the second dose of treatment. The enzymes were determined in the microsomal fraction after homogenization and ultracentrifugation at 105,000 x g. The results indicate a marked decrease of most enzymes in the infected groups compared to normal controls. Two weeks after treatment there was an improvement of the level of most enzymes towards the normal values. The levels of liver function tests were also improved. Concerning the oogram pattern, there was a rapid change even after 8 h after the second dose of treatment. It was concluded that the antibilharzial drug could be considered as a safe drug with a rapid onset of action.