Protozoa as Pharmacological Tools: The Antihistamines

Abstract

Two protozoa, Ochromonas malhamensis and Tetrahymena pyriformis, were used to study the mode of action and side effects of three antihistamines: diphenhydramine, tripelennamine and pheniramine. The mode of action was studied by inhibition analysis and the side effects by motility tests. The use of these methods as preliminary screening procedures for new chemotherapeutic agents is discussed.