nifuroxazide and Diarrhea

Nifuroxazide (NFX) is a safe nitrofuran antibacterial drug used clinically to treat acute diarrhea and infectious traveler diarrhea or colitis. Recent studies revealed that NFX displays multiple pharmacological effects, including anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects. NFX has potential roles in inhibiting thyroid, breast, lung, bladder, liver, and colon cancers and osteosarcoma, melanoma, and others mediated by suppressing STAT3 as well as ALDH1, MMP2, MMP9, Bcl2 and upregulating Bax. Moreover, it has promising effects against sepsis-induced organ injury, hepatic disorders, diabetic nephropathy, ulcerative colitis, and immune disorders. These promising effects appear to be mediated by suppressing STAT3 as well as NF-κB, TLR4, and β-catenin expressions and effectively decreasing downstream cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6. Our review summarizes the available studies on the molecular biological mechanisms of NFX in cancer and other diseases and it is recommended to translate the studies in experimental animals and cultured cells and repurpose NFX in various diseases for scientific evidence based on human studies.

Topics: Animals; Colitis, Ulcerative; Diarrhea; Humans; NF-kappa B; Nitrofurans; Signal Transduction; Travel

In a double-blind, controlled randomized trial, 88 adult patients with acute diarrhea (more than three watery stools per day) received either 400 mg of nifuroxazide twice daily or placebo for 5 days. The mean duration of diarrhea in the nifuroxazide group was 2.09 days versus 3.26 days in the placebo group (p less than 0.004). The number of bowel movements per day diminished and mucus disappeared more quickly in patients treated by nifuroxazide than in patients of the placebo group. Nifuroxazide was well tolerated and no side effects were observed. Nifuroxazide is an effective therapy for acute diarrhea and can be prescribed from the onset of diarrhea without waiting for stool culture results which can be late or negative.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adult; Anti-Infective Agents; Diarrhea; Double-Blind Method; Female; France; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Male; Multicenter Studies as Topic; Nitrofurans

Drug repositioning is becoming an ideal strategy to select new anticancer drugs. In particular, drugs treating the side effects of chemotherapy are the best candidates.. In this present work, we undertook the evaluation of anti-tumour activity of two anti-diarrheal drugs (nifuroxazide and rifaximin).. Anti-proliferative effect against breast cancer cells (MDA-MB-231, MCF-7 and T47D) was assessed by MTT analysis, the Brdu incorporation, mitochondrial permeability and caspase-3 activity.. Both the drugs displayed cytotoxic effects on MCF-7, T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells. The lowest IC50 values were obtained on MCF-7 cells after 24, 48 and 72 hours of treatment while T47D and MDA-MB-231 were more resistant. The IC50 values on T47D and MDA-MB-231 cells became significantly low after 72 hours of treatment showing a late cytotoxicity effect especially of nifuroxazide but still less important than that of MCF-7 cells. According to the IC50 values, the non-tumour cell line HEK293 seems to be less sensitive to cytotoxicity especially against rifaximin. Both the drugs have shown an accumulation of rhodamine 123 as a function of the rise of their concentrations while the Brdu incorporation decreased. Despite the absence of a significant difference in the cell cycle between the treated and non-treated MCF-7 cells, the caspase-3 activity increased with the drug concentrations rise suggesting an apoptotic effect.. Nifuroxazide and rifaximin are used to overcome the diarrheal side effect of anticancer drugs. However, they have shown to be anti-tumour drugs which make them potential dual effective drugs against cancer and the side effects of chemotherapy.

Topics: Antineoplastic Agents; Cell Cycle; Cell Proliferation; Cells, Cultured; Diarrhea; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Repositioning; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; HEK293 Cells; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Molecular Structure; Nitrofurans; Rifaximin; Structure-Activity Relationship; Wound Healing

Topics: Aged; Agranulocytosis; Diabetes Complications; Diarrhea; Female; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Leukemoid Reaction; Nitrofurans

The clinical effects of Nifuroxasid (N), Trimetoprim sulphametoxasol (TS) and Bactisubtil (B) on bacillar dysentery and alimentary toxicoinfections in the patients treated at the Clinic from January 1984 to the end of December 1989 have been analysed. According to the clinical signs, patients have been divided in ten categories of light, mild and heavy forms. In total, 329 cases of bacillar dysentery and 89 cases of alimentary toxicoinfections have been analysed. The following was established: A. Bacilar dysentery: the fastest normalization of the stool was achieved with N in every clinical form (averages 2.2, 3.5 and 4.05 days). With TS the effects were slower (3.0, 3.9 and 4.4 days), but the slowest normalization was recorded with B (3.4, 4.6 and 5.4 days). However, with TS, some Shigella strains showed resistance (in 23 out of 94 antibiograms), which diminished the effects. B. Alimentary toxicoinfections were treated only with N and B, since these forms of diarrhea caused by toxigenic factors were milder. Better results were achieved with N in this case as well.

Topics: Acute Disease; Adjuvants, Immunologic; Anti-Infective Agents; Bacillus subtilis; Biological Factors; Diarrhea; Dysentery, Bacillary; Foodborne Diseases; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Nitrofurans; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Traveler's diarrhea is a very common condition that affects approximately 12 million subjects each year. This disorder is benign but nevertheless interferes with the traveler's plans in 40% of cases. Several drugs have been used for prophylaxis, in association with appropriate precautions concerning food and drink. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and cyclines are effective but may induce adverse effects. Nifuroxazide in a dose of 400 mg each day throughout the trip has proved effective. Tolerance was outstanding with no adverse effects.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Anti-Infective Agents; Antidiarrheals; Diarrhea; Egypt; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Mexico; Middle Aged; Nitrofurans; Travel

Topics: Adolescent; Child; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Diarrhea, Infantile; Escherichia coli; Feces; Humans; Hydroxybenzoates; Infant; Intestines; Nitrofurans; Salmonella