Metabolic effects of some antibilharzial drugs. Comparative study on the effect of tartar-emetic and piperazine hexahydrate on the activity of some oxidoreductase enzymes of the rat livers.

IN THIS INVESTIGATION, the effects of the examined antibilharzial agents are as follows: Bilharcid and tartar-emetic similarly affected succinate oxidation. 50% inhibition could be obtained at a concentration of 10(-3) of both drugs. Malate oxidation was differently affected by the drugs. Bilharcid and tartar-emetic at a concentration of 10(-3) M induced 50% and 70% inhibition respectively, while tartar-emetic stimulated malate oxidation if added in a concentration of 10(-5) M. Pyruvate oxidation was affected in the same manner and to the same extent as malate oxidation. Citrate oxidation was slightly inhibited by Bilharcid and tartar-emetic. 10% and 30% inhibition could be obtained if the concentration was 10(-3) M of both drugs respectively. Bilharcid had a biphasic effect on citrate oxidation. Stimulation could be observed at low concentrations (up to 10(-8) M and inhibition at higher ones (up to 10(-3) M. Piperazine hexahydrate was nearly without effect on the rate of oxidation of the four mentioned substrates.