Effect of albendazole on pregnancy and foetal development

Recently, albendazole has gained a good reputation as the drug of choice having a broad-spectrum nematocidal, cesticidal and fasciolicidal activities. Nevertheless, the seemingly promising future use of albendazole could be highly precluded by its sideeffects. Stemmed from this concept, the present study was designed toscrutinize the likely, if any, inimical effects of alberrdazole onpregnant female rats, the development of their foeti and thewellbeing of their neonates.I. Effects on developing foeti:-The effect of albendazole orally given at therapeutic dose, 7.2mg/200 gm b.wt. /day, on foetal development was investigated onfifty mature female albino rats, using thirty mature male- albino ratsfor mating. Pregnant rats were divided into five equal groups each often:-* The first group was left as control.* The 2nd group: given albendazole from 6th through io” dayof pregnancy. * The yd group: given albendazole on 10th day of pregnancy.* The 4th group: given albendazole from 11 th through 15th day of pregnancy.