A Comparison between the Effects of Albendazole and Mebendazole on the Enzymatic Activity of Excretory / Secretory Products of Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces in Vitro

Background: Hydatid cysts are formed in human body can be treated clinically by surgery or drugs such as albenda-zole (ABZ) and mebendazole (MBZ). The purpose of this study was comparing the effects of ABZ and MBZ on glu-tathione-S-transferase, alkaline phosphatase and protease enzymes activities in protoscoleces of hydatid cyst. Methods: The culture supernatants containing the parasite Excretory / Secretory (E/S) products were collected every 12 h for 72 h. The E/S products of treated samples with 1μg/ml ABZ and MBZ and the control one were collected and after centrifugation then protein concentrations were measured according to Bradford method. GST, ALP and protease activities of E/S products were assessed photometrically. Results: The mean of GST specific activity level in treated protoscoleces with ABZ and MBZ and in control group were obtained 69.44, 132.83 and 225.47U/mg/protein/ml respectively. The mean ALP activity level in treated protos-coleces with ABZ and MBZ and in control group were detected 19.22, 22.27 and 27.85 U/mg/protein/ml respective-ly. The protease activity level in treated protoscoleces with ABZ and MBZ were not detected. While the mean of pro-tease activity level in control group was 7.61U/mg/proteins. Statistical analysis showed the significant difference be-tween protein concentrations, the specific activities of GST, ALP and protease enzymes in treated protoscoleces in comparison with control group (P<0.05). Also, the significant difference were seen between specific activities of GST and ALP enzymes in treated protoscoleces with ABZ in comparison with treated group with MBZ (P<0.05). Conclusion: ABZ is more effective on the enzymes activities (GST and ALP) as compared with MBZ.