Methyl
N-(6-phenylsulfanyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl) carbamate [Fenbendazole, FZ] is an
anthelmintic drug which acts by selectively binding to β tubulin of nematodes,
inhibiting the tubulin polymerization and blocking microtubule dependent glucose uptake. The anti-proliferative effect of Fenbendazole is partly due to
its ability to affect microtubule dynamics and arrest cells at a pro-metaphase
state with an intact mitotic spindle.
Here, we show that Fenbendazole
- a benzimidazole anthelmintic drug, can be used as an alternative to
colchicine for making high quality chromosome preparations for karyotyping and
further cytogenetic analysis. This drug could efficiently block the
proliferation of human tumor cell lines as well as peripheral blood lymphocytes
in culture by arresting them at G2M phase. FZ treatment at 1uM concentration for 3 h resulted in high mitotic indices resulting in a number of well spread metaphasic plates in suspension as well as adherent cultures. The morphology of
metaphase chromosomes obtained from FZ treated samples was at par with those
prepared from colchicine. Conclusion: Altogether, our results show FZ as an
extremely efficient, relatively non-toxic and inexpensive G2/M blocker which
may be utilized as a suitable alternative of colchicine for routine cytogenetic
analysis.