Classification and Mechanism of Action of Anti-Parasitic Drugs: A Review Article

Abstract

The action of antiparasitic drugs is critical in the treatment of infections caused by parasites and that have devastating effects on millions of individuals worldwide. This paper consolidates different research findings on the classification and mechanisms of action of these drugs, highlighting new therapies and natural products. In particular, this special class of heterocyclic compounds, known as Benzimidazoles, has garnered a wide interest in medicinal chemistry due to their broad pharmacological activities. It recognizes the important contribution normally made by these drugs in the treatment of a wide range of different diseases, including cancer, bacterial infection, and parasitic disease. Drug-resistant parasites are now increasingly prevalent and have greatly impeded the management of parasitic infections; thus, there is an increasing demand for new therapeutic approaches. Anti-parasitic metallodrugs have emerged as another auspicious mode of intervention that carefully exploits the unique chemical features of metal ions and their complexes to affect the biological pathways important for the survival of the parasite. In this paper, we will draw up a range of knowledge gaps identified up-to-date and propose future research directions that would enhance the understanding and, what is more important, the efficiency of anti-parasitic therapies.