Arthritis medicines can kill parasites

Auranofin, a cheap drug that is widely used to treat arthritis, will be a way, according to a study by California (USA) scientists on May 21 in the Journal of Natural Medicine. Magical methods help kill amoebic parasites , causing illness for about 50 million people / year and in which up to 70,000 people were killed.

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After the research process, the scientists showed that auranofin, a medicine that specifically treat arthritis since 1985, is highly effective in fighting and killing Entamoeba Histolytica parasites.

Exist in water and food, this parasite is a danger to humans but is neglected in poor countries, causing amoebic dysentery and liver abscess.

Thanks to a high-tech project that censors potential drugs for "orphan" , auranofin has been found to kill dangerous parasites. The drug was tested on the parasite that existed in the plates of food in the laboratory, then on mice with colitis caused by amoebic bacteria and also in the hamsters with amoebic liver cysts.

Auranofin's mechanism of action is to target enzymes that protect parasites from the effects of oxygen, which is very sensitive.

Tests showed that auranofin is 10 times more effective at metronidazole antibiotics, which is a treatment for amoebic infections. This means we can only need a small dose or even just a small tablet. This drug is much better than drugs that have been tested for a long time.

At a permissible dose, the drug has almost no side effects such as when taking metronidazole, which can cause nausea, vomiting, dizziness and headaches.

Based on the appropriate dosage tested in the laboratory, this therapy can be sold for about 2.5 USD / dose, or cheaper. Both cost-effective and highly effective treatment.

Anjan Debnath from the University of California (San Francisco) said "This is a drug that you can find in every country".