Open AccessA review of the anti-viral effects of ivermectin
Author(s) -
B Adegboro,
O.A. Lawani,
S. E. Oriaifo,
Abayomi Sorinola
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
african journal of clinical and experimental microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1595-689X
DOI - 10.4314/ajcem.v22i3.2
Subject(s) - ivermectin , streptomyces avermitilis , pharmacology , avermectin , pharmacodynamics , pharmacokinetics , antiparasitic , broad spectrum , in vivo , drug , medicine , biology , chemistry , streptomyces , microbiology and biotechnology , veterinary medicine , combinatorial chemistry , bacteria , pathology , anatomy , genetics
Ivermectin is an avermectin which is a group of pentacyclic sixteen-membered lactone (macrocyclic lactone disaccharide) derived from the soil bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. It is a semi-synthetic broad-spectrum anti-helminthic, anti-viral and anti-cancer agent. It has a wide safety margin with low adverse effects when it is used orally. It has, however, so far only been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a broad spectrum anti-parasitic agent. Because ivermectin also has broad activities as an anti-viral agent, we herein review its pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic activities, as well as the in vitro and in vivo studies conducted on the drug. It is hoped that this work will pave way for ivermectin being seriously considered as an addition to the drugs available for the management of patients with COVID-19.
Keywords: ivermectin; pharmacokinetics; pharmacodynamics; broad-spectrum anti-viral; COVID-19