Effects of mebendazole on the absorption of low molecular weight nutrients by Ascaris suum

Van Den Bossche H. and De Nollin S. 1973. Effects of mebendazole on the absorption of low molecular weight nutrients by Ascaris suum. International Journal for Parasitology3: 401–407. The effect of the anthelmintic drug, mebendazole, on the uptake and/or transport of glucose, fructose, 3-O-methylglucose, glycine, proline, methionine and palmitic acid was studied on in vitro incubated Ascaris suum. The experiments presented indicate that mebendazole inhibits the uptake and/or transport of glucose by A. suum. This inhibition is followed by a marked decrease in the glycogen content of the ascaris muscle. The addition of glucose to the incubation medium significantly enhanced the rate of uptake and/or transport of 3-O-methylglueose, glycine, methionine, proline and palmitic acid indicating that the absorption mechanisms depend on energy.Therefore, the inhibitory effect of mebendazole on the glucose uptake also results in a decreased uptake of 3-O-methylglucose and of the amino acids and fatty acid studied. The fructose uptake was not affected by the addition of glucose.Although mebendazole decreased the uptake of the hexoses and of the amino acids whether or not glucose was added, the uptake of palmitic acid was not affected when glucose was omitted from the medium. Mebendazole failed to exhibit an effect on the uptake, transport and/or utilization of glucose in rat.