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D-allose and D-psicose reinforce the action of metronidazole on trichomonad

Masakazu Harada1, Emi Kondo, Hiromi Hayashi

  • 1Department of International Medical Zoology, Faculty of Medicine, Kagawa University, 1750-1, Ikenobe, Miki, Kita, Kagawa 761-0793, Japan. mharada@kms.ac.jp

Parasitology Research
|October 1, 2011
PubMed

Insights

D-allose and D-psicose sugars show potential in treating Tritrichomonas foetus infections. These sugars enhance metronidazole efficacy, possibly reducing required drug dosage and preventing parasite resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Parasitology
  • Microbiology
  • Drug Discovery

Background:

  • Tritrichomonas foetus is a protozoan parasite causing significant health issues in animals.
  • Metronidazole is a common treatment, but concerns exist regarding dosage and resistance.
  • The role of specific sugars in modulating parasite response to drugs is not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of D-allose and D-psicose on the growth of Tritrichomonas foetus.
  • To evaluate the combined effects of these sugars with metronidazole on parasite viability.
  • To explore potential synergistic interactions between D-allose, D-psicose, and metronidazole.

Main Methods:

  • Culturing Tritrichomonas foetus in F-bouillon medium with glucose, D-allose, or D-psicose.
  • Assessing parasite density in cultures with metronidazole alone versus metronidazole combined with sugars.
  • Measuring the efficacy of metronidazole at its ED(50) dose in the presence of D-allose and D-psicose.

Main Results:

  • D-allose and D-psicose did not support Tritrichomonas foetus growth when replacing glucose.
  • Parasite density was significantly reduced when metronidazole was combined with D-allose or D-psicose compared to metronidazole alone.
  • D-allose demonstrated a remarkable enhancement of metronidazole's action against the parasite.

Conclusions:

  • D-allose and D-psicose interact with metronidazole, influencing its efficacy against Tritrichomonas foetus.
  • These sugars may allow for reduced metronidazole dosages, potentially mitigating side effects and toxicity.
  • The observed interaction could offer a strategy to prevent or delay the development of metronidazole resistance in trichomonad parasites.

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