The Clean Living Project Episode 24 - Subconscious
Anthelmintic Agents
1. Anthelmintics
Dr. Somdutt Mujwar
(Associate Professor)
M.M. College of Pharmacy,
Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University)
Mullana, Ambala- Haryana, India
Mobile: +91-9827813303
2. Anthelmintics
Helminth- It is a general term for worms (vermi).
• Helminths (worms) are multicellular organisms that infect very large
numbers of humans and cause a broad range of diseases.
• Over 1 billion people are infected with intestinal nematodes, and many
millions are infected with filarial nematodes, flukes, and tapeworms.
• They are an even greater problem in domestic animals.
3. Anthelmintics
Anthelmintics
• Anthelmintics or antihelminthics are a group of antiparasitic drugs that
expel parasitic worms and other internal parasites from the body by either
stunning or killing them and without causing significant damage to the
host.
• They may also be called vermifuges or vermicides.
5. I. Benzimidazole
Mebendazole
• It is a benzimidazole anthelmintic used to treat helminth infections.
• Mebendazole is a (synthetic) broad-spectrum anthelmintic.
• The principal mode of action for Mebendazole is by its inhibitory effect
on tubulin polymerization which results in the loss of cytoplasmic
microtubules.
6. Classification
Albendazole
It is a benzimidazole anthelmintic used to treat parenchymal
neurocysticercosis and other helminth infections.
Thiabendazole
It is a benzimidazole used in the treatment of strongyloides (threadworm),
cutaneous larva migrans, visceral larva migrans, and trichinosis infections.
7. II. Piperazines
Diethylcarbamazine citrate
• It is an anthelmintic used to treat filarial infections like Wuchereria
bancrofti and Loa loa.
• The mechanism of action of diethylcarbamazine is thought to involve
sensitizing the microfilariae to phagocytosis.
8. III. Heterocyclic
Oxamniquine
• Oxamniquine is an anthelmintic with schistosomicidal activity against
Schistosoma mansoni, but not against other Schistosoma species.
• Oxamniquine may associate with an irreversible inhibition of the nucleic
acid metabolism of the parasites.
Praziquantal
• Praziquantel is an anthelmintic medication used to treat a number of
parasitic worm infections such as schistosomiasis.
9. IV. Amides
Niclosamide
• Niclosamide is an antihelminthic used for the treatment of tapeworm infections.
• It works by killing tapeworms on contact.
• Adult worms are rapidly killed, presumably due to uncoupling of oxidative
phosphorylation or stimulation of ATPase activity.
10. V. Natural Product
Ivermectin
• Ivermectin is an anti parasite medication used to treat head lice, onchocerciasis,
strongyloidiasis, ascariasis, trichuriasis, and enterobiasis.
• Ivermectin binds selectively and with high affinity to glutamate-gated chloride
ion channels in invertebrate muscle and nerve cells of the microfilaria.
• This binding causes an increase in the permeability of the cell membrane to
chloride ions and results in hyperpolarization of the cell, leading to paralysis
and death of the parasite.