Mechanism of action of triclabendazole
The molecular mode of action of all benzimidazoles, including triclabendazole, consists in binding to tubulin, a structural protein of microtubules. These microtubules are important organelles involved in the motility, the division and the secretion processes of cells in all living organisms. In the worms the blocking of microtubules perturbs the uptake of glucose, which eventually empties the glycogen reserves. This blocks the whole energy management mechanism of the worms that are paralyzed and die or are expelled.
However, triclabendazole binds to a specific "tubulozole" receptor in the microtubules of flukes, which interferes mainly with the intracellular transport in the cells and not with cell division. For these reason it has no teratogenic effect as other benzimidazoles. Triclabendazole also inhibits protein synthesis in liver flukes, which affects enzyme production and therefore digestion, tegument maintenance, as well as egg and sperm production.
Written by P. Junquera