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Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC)

Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC)

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Chemical Structure / Formula of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC)

  • Formula: C10H21N3O · C6H8O7 (Citrate salt)
  • Structure: A piperazine derivative with a urea (-NHCONH-) group.

Diethylcarbamazine Citrate

Mechanism of Action

  • Inhibits arachidonic acid metabolism in microfilariae, making them more susceptible to immune attack.
  • Interferes with neuromuscular transmission, causing paralysis and death of the worms.

Uses

  • Filarial infections (Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi, Loa loa).
  • Tropical eosinophilia (Weingarten’s syndrome).

Side Effects

  • Mazzotti reaction (fever, rash, hypotension due to rapid worm death).
  • GI disturbances, headache, dizziness.

Structure-Activity Relationship (SAR) of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate

Structural Feature SAR Insight
Piperazine ring Contributes to CNS effects and pharmacokinetics.
Diethyl groups on nitrogen Required for anti-filarial activity; influence lipophilicity and uptake.
Citrate salt form Improves solubility and absorption.
Small alkyl groups preferred Bulky substitutions reduce activity.

 

Synthesis of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate (DEC)

Synthesis of Diethylcarbamazine Citrate

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