In vitroeffects of mebendazole on the carbohydrate metabolism ofAvitellina lahorea(Cestoda)

Abstract

ABSTRACTMebendazole (3.3 μmol), causesin vitroglycogen depletion and inhibits glucose uptake inAvitellina lahorea. Inhibition of non-specific phosphomonoesterases and adenosine triphosphatase by mebendazole is discussed in the light of the role of phosphatases in uptake mechanisms. Mebendazole has no effect on hexokinase which has broad substrate specificity but influences the activities of some glycolytic enzymes such as phosphorylase, phosphoglucomutase and glucose-6-phosphatase. Thus, it appears that mebendazole also acts to disrupt certain enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism which may ultimately cause death of the parasite.