title: Anti-filarial activity of novel formulations of albendazole against experimental brugian filariasis.
abstract: The study was aimed at developing better orally active albendazole (ALB) formulations. Six formulations (ALB-1 to ALB-6) were prepared and tested against Brugia malayi in Mastomys coucha and jird (Meriones unguiculatus) at 200 mg/kg, orally, for 5 consecutive days. The anti-filarial efficacy was assessed against microfilariae (mf), adult worms and female reproductive potential. Three of the 6 ALB formulations showed greatly improved female worm sterilizing potential (ALB-1: 90%; ALB-3: 63%; ALB-4: 77% of untreated control) in B. malayi - M. coucha model. Sterilization efficacy of ALB-1 was also better than that shown by pure-ALB (P<0.001) or its marketed tablet formulation, Zentel (P<0.01), while that of ALB-4 was better than pure-ALB (P<0.05). The activity of ALB-3, pure-ALB and Zentel was, however, comparable. ALB-1 also showed late microfilaricidal activity with a maximum of 78% fall in microfilarial count. In contrast, neither the pure ALB nor Zentel showed any microfilaricidal activity. In the jird - B. malayi model, ALB-1 and ALB-4 showed marginal sterilizing efficacy whereas pure ALB or Zentel were ineffective. In conclusion the anti-filarial efficacy of ALB-1 was found to be superior to pure-ALB or Zentel.
authors.affiliation: Division of Parasitology, Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, 226001, India.
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gaur
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dixit
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Sahoo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khanna
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: P K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Murthy
mesh_terms: D015766:Albendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D017178:Brugia malayi / Q000187:drug effects; D004304:Dosage Forms; D005368:Filariasis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005369:Filaricides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005849:Gerbillinae; D051189:Murinae; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004304:Dosage Forms; D005369:Filaricides; D015766:Albendazole