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

Theodor Bilharz Research Institute

Bibliographic Information

Authors: Mahmoud Y.S.; El-Wakil E.S.; Elsayad M.H.; Khodear G.A.M.; Kazem A.; Elhadad H.

Journal: Journal of Helminthology

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Publication Date: 2025

Volume / Issue: Volume 99

Article No.: e55

ISSN: 0022149X

DOI: 10.1017/S0022149X25000276

Scopus: View on Scopus

PubMed: 40275564

Document Type: Article

Authors and Affiliations

Mahmoud Y.S., Misr University for Science and Technology, 6th of October, Egypt; El-Wakil E.S., Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Giza, Egypt; Elsayad M.H., Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; Khodear G.A.M., Medical Technology Centre, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt; Kazem A., Department of Pathology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Egypt; Elhadad H., Department of Parasitology, Medical Research Institute, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

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. © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press.

Keywords

albendazole; chitosan loaded nanoparticles; metformin; treatment; Trichinellosis; Animals; Anthelmintics; Chitosan; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Repositioning; Female; Mice; Nanoparticles; Trichinella spiralis; chitosan nanoparticle; anthelmintic agent; nanoparticle; adult; animal experiment; animal model; animal tissue; Article; comparative effectiveness; controlled study; histopathology; mouse; nonhuman; parasitological parameters; scanning electron microscopy; trichinosis; animal; chemistry; disease model; drug effect; drug therapy; parasitology

Citation Information

Scopus Citations: 6

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