Oxantel
Oxantel is an anthelmintic. It has typically been used in human and animal medicine as a standard treatment for intestinal worms.
Oxantel is currently being experimented with for the treatment of periodontal disease by the Cooperative Research Centre for Oral Health Science. Laureate Professor Eric Reynolds AO and Associate Professor Stuart Dashper are currently testing its ability as a Fumarate reductase inhibitor.
Fumarate reductase is an enzyme that has been found in the pathogenic bacteria in the biofilm in periodontal pockets. This bacteria has the ability to convert blood components into energy and for the bacteria to be virulent. Such bacteria would starve without this enzyme. As such, the role of the Oxantel as a fumarate reductase inhibitor would be to kill the bacteria responsible for periodontal disease.
