Inhibition of axenically grown Entamoeba histolytica by purine nucleoside analogs and actions of natural nucleosides.

The effects of the nucleoside analogs tubercidin, nebularin, formycin B and 3'-deoxyinosine on axenically grown Entamoeba histolytica were tested. Both tubercidin and nebularin showed pronounced inhibitory action, 50% of growth inhibition (IC50) being obtained at 0.14 and 0.82 microM, respectively. Formycin B and 3'-deoxyinosine were essentially inactive or weakly active at concentrations above 10 microM. Natural nucleosides, including adenosine, inosine, guanosine, thymidine, uridine and cytidine caused no significant effects at concentrations of 0.01-1 microM, however, significant inhibitory action was observed at or above 10 microM with cytidine and thymidine. The exploration of cytotoxic nucleosides as antiamebal drugs is of continued interest.