What are the immunopharmacological effects of furazolidone? A systematic review

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol. 2021 Dec;43(6):674-679. doi: 10.1080/08923973.2021.1979034. Epub 2021 Sep 27.

Abstract

Furazolidone (FZD) is a widely used drug in human and veterinary medicine, and has antibacterial and antiprotozoal action. Although it is widely used as a therapy in various pathological conditions, studies on the efficacy of FZD associated with immune responses are still limited. In this review, we seek to describe which immunopharmacological responses are caused by the administration of FZD. The study followed the recommendations of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA). A systematic review of clinical trials and in vitro and in vivo experimental studies was carried out, which resulted in 943 papers, of which 35 were considered eligible and, of these 35, 4 were selected for analysis. The studies listed indicated that administration of FZD can modulate pro- or anti-inflammatory pathways, with a probable increase in the expression of reactive oxygen species and a modulation of apoptotic pathways.

Keywords: Furazolidone; immune response; immunology; immunopharmacology.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity / drug effects
  • Adaptive Immunity / immunology*
  • Animals
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / pharmacology*
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Apoptosis / immunology*
  • Cell Survival / drug effects
  • Cell Survival / immunology
  • Furazolidone / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Immunity, Innate / drug effects
  • Immunity, Innate / immunology*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / immunology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Furazolidone