<i>In vitro</i> Evaluation of Benzimidazole Carbamates on Cystic Larvae of Three Cestode Parasite Models

Abstract

Benzimidazole carbamates are broad-spectrum anthelmintics which have limited solubility and hence poor absorption following oral administration. Consequently, their use is limited almost entirely to the treatment of intestinal helminthiasis. This study was designed to compare two different preparations (polyvinylpyrrolidone-drug solutions and dimethylsulfoxide-drug suspensions) of mebendazole, albendazole and ricobendazole (albendazole sulphoxide) by analyzing their in vitro efficacy on Echinococcus granulosus, Mesocestoides corti and Taenia crassiceps parasite models at concentrations of 5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/ml. The effects of the two drug preparations were evaluated on days 2, 4, 7 and 11 post inoculation. The in vitro effects of the two preparations on the assayed cystic larvae showed that polyvinylpyrrolidone-drug solutions were more efficacious than dimethylsulfoxide-drug suspensions in the order of mebendazole >albendazole >ricobendazole. Moreover, the three parasite models complement one another.

Keywords: In vitro efficacy, Echinococcus granulosus, Mesocestoides corti, Taenia crassiceps, benzimidazole carbamates, cysts viability

The East and Central African Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences Vol. 9 (2) 2006: pp. 31-39