In vitro trypanocidal activity of the anti-helminthic drug nichlosamide

Karin Merschjohann, Dietmar Steverding

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34 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Only a few drugs are available for chemotherapy of African trypanosomiasis and there is an urgent need for the development of new anti-trypanosomal agents. In this study, the anti-helminthic drug niclosamide was tested for its trypanocidal activity in vitro using culture-adapted bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei and Trypanosoma congolense. The concentrations of niclosamide to reduce the growth rate by 50% and to kill all cells were in the low- and mid micromolar ranges for T. b. brucei and T. congolense, respectively. The very low toxicity of niclosamide for mammals makes the compound interesting for drug development for African trypanosomiasis.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)637-640
Number of pages4
JournalExperimental Parasitology
Volume118
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2008

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