Effect of dimethylmaleate and phorone on glutathione content of Setaria cervi (Nematoda: Filarioidea) during in vitro incubation

Glutathione metabolism represents a prospective target for antifilarial drug design, and therefore, the alterations in glutathione (GSH) content of filarial worms by known mammalian GSH depletors i.e. dimethylmaleate (DMM) and phorone were first thought for investigation in model filarial worms Setaria cervi. The dose dependent GSH depletion was achieved when these worms were incubated at 37°C for 6 h in Hanks balanced salt solution with varying concentrations (10–250 μM) of DMM or phorone. During the short incubation period of 6 h, 250 μM of DMM and phorone declined more than 90 % of the GSH content of filarial worms.