BMC complementary medicine and therapies
Evaluating the effects of metronidazole, metformin, and onion extract on GAPDH activity and nitric oxide production in Blastocystis sp. cultures: a biochemical and therapeutic approach
By Basuony GA, Hamed AMR, Mahfoz AM and 3 others.
Abstract
Background
Blastocystis sp. is a highly prevalent anaerobic intestinal protozoan increasingly associated with gastrointestinal disorders. Its survival within the gut microenvironment depends on metabolic pathways such as glycolysis, where glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) plays a central role, alongside interactions with nitric oxide (NO) derived from host defenses and surrounding microbiota. The emergence of metronidazole resistance necessitates exploration of alternative therapeutic strategies.
Objective
To evaluate the in vitro effects of metronidazole, metformin, and Allium cepa (onion) extract on Blastocystis sp. growth, and GAPDH activity and NO levels within the xenic culture medium.