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Metformin innovative repurposing as anti-parasitic drug in the treatment of murine trichinosis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 April 2025

Y.S. Mahmoud ,
E.S. El-Wakil ,
M.H. Elsayad ,
G.A.M Khodear ,
A. Kazem  and
H. Elhadad Open the ORCID record for H. Elhadad [Opens in a new window]
Y.S. Mahmoud
Affiliation:
Misr University for Science and Technology, 6th of October, Egypt
E.S. El-Wakil
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt
M.H. Elsayad
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
G.A.M Khodear
Affiliation:
Medical Technology Centre, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt
A. Kazem
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt
H. Elhadad*
Affiliation:
Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt
*
Corresponding author: H. Elhadad; Emails: [email protected]; [email protected]
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Abstract

Benzimidazoles are the most frequently prescribed therapeutic options for treating trichinellosis in clinical settings; however, they have a lot of disadvantages. Therefore, researchers are focusing on the hunt for substitute chemicals. The goal of the current study was to compare the effectiveness of albendazole and the anti-diabetic medication metformin loaded on chitosan nanoparticles in treating mice infected with various stages of T. spiralis infection. 160 mice were included in the present study and divided into 8 groups: 6 experimentally treated groups, and positive and negative control groups. For studying the intestinal and parenteral phase, each group was broken into two more subgroups (a and b) according to the time of drug administration. The effects of albendazole, albendazole-loaded NPs, metformin, metformin-loaded NPs, combined albendazole and metformin, and metformin and albendazole-loaded NPs were assessed using parasitological studies, histopathological examination, and ultrastructural examination using SEM.

Statistically significant differences were detected in all studied subgroups compared to the control infected subgroup both in the intestinal and muscular phases. The greatest decrease in recovered adult worm and muscle larvae numbers was achieved by ABZ & MET/ Cs NPs. These findings were confirmed by histopathological examination. SEM examination of the tegument of T. spirals adult worms and muscle larvae showed destruction with multiple degenerative changes.

Our results suggested that metformin and its combination with albendazole especially when loaded on chitosan nanoparticles could be potential therapeutic alternative drugs against trichinellosis.

Keywords

Trichinellosistreatmentalbendazolemetforminchitosan loaded nanoparticles
Type
Research Paper
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 99 , 2025 , e55
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press

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