Ivermectin: An Anthelmintic, an Insecticide, and Much More

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Parasitology
• Drug Repurposing

Background:

• Ivermectin is a well-established anthelmintic and insecticidal drug.
• Its primary mechanism involves modulating glutamate-gated chloride channels in nematodes and insects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the known actions of ivermectin.
• To explore recent studies investigating ivermectin's potential for treating diseases beyond parasitic infections.
• To assess the validity of these repositioning efforts.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of ivermectin's pharmacological actions.
• Analysis of studies exploring ivermectin's effects on various diseases in vitro.
• Examination of ivermectin's mechanism of action at different concentrations.

Main Results:

• Ivermectin acts as a positive allosteric modulator of glutamate-gated chloride channels.
• At higher concentrations, it affects host central nervous system ion channels.
• In vitro studies indicate potential antiviral, antimalarial, antimetabolic, and anticancer effects.

Conclusions:

• Ivermectin's established mechanism is antiparasitic.
• Preliminary research suggests broader therapeutic potential, but requires further investigation.
• Clinical application for non-parasitic diseases, especially COVID-19, needs careful consideration due to high in vitro concentrations.