Niclosamide

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A nitrosalicylanilide anthelmintic effective against tapeworms in all species except Echinococcus granulosus and Dipylidium caninum in dogs. Has some activity against paramphistomes in ruminants.

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Niclosamide
Systematic (IUPAC) name
5-chloro-N-(2-chloro-4-nitrophenyl)-2-hydroxybenzamide
Clinical data
AHFS/Drugs.com Micromedex Detailed Consumer Information
Pregnancy cat.  ?
Legal status  ?
Identifiers
CAS number 50-65-7 N
ATC code P02DA01 QP52AG03
PubChem CID 4477
DrugBank DB06803
ChemSpider 4322 YesY
UNII 8KK8CQ2K8G YesY
KEGG D00436 YesY
ChEMBL CHEMBL1448 YesY
Chemical data
Formula C13H8Cl2N2O4 
Mol. mass 327.119 g/mol
SMILES eMolecules & PubChem
 N (what is this?)  (verify)

Niclosamide (trade name Niclocide) is a teniacide ("tenia-" referring to tapeworm) in the anthelmintic family especially effective against cestodes that infect humans. It is also used as a piscicide.It is stressed that while antihelmintics are a drug family used to treat worm infections, Niclosamide is used specifically to treat tapeworms and is not effective against worms such as pinworms or roundworms. It is a chewable tablet taken orally, dosage depending on type of worm and patient's age and/or weight. Niclosamide molecules are lethal to tapeworms upon contact.

Contents

Side effects

The medication can have side effects such as abdominal pain, anorexia, diarrhea, and emesis. Rarely, dizziness, skin rash, drowsiness, perianal itching, and an unpleasant taste.

Potential efficacy against colon cancer

Niclosamide has been shown to inhibit the spread of colon cancer in animal studies. The drug works by blocking the expression of gene called S100A4/metastasin, which can prompt colon cancer metastasis.[1]

Mechanism of action

According to an article in Nature,[2] niclosamide uncouples oxidative phosphorylation in the tapeworm.

References

  1. ^ http://www.emaxhealth.com/1275/spread-colon-cancer-stopped-tapeworm-drug
  2. ^ Weinbach EC, Garbus J (1969). "Mechanism of action of reagents that uncouple oxidative phosphorylation". Nature 221 (5185): 1016–8. doi:10.1038/2211016a0. PMID 4180173. 

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