Ivermectin

Type: Antiparasitic agent

Uses: Treats parasitic infections such as strongyloidiasis (intestinal worms) and onchocerciasis (river blindness).
Effective against ectoparasites like head lice and scabies.
In veterinary medicine, widely used for treating livestock and pets.

Mechanism of Action: Binds to glutamate-gated chloride channels in invertebrate nerve and muscle cells, increasing chloride ion permeability leading to paralysis and death of parasites.

Safety and Side Effects: Generally well-tolerated.
Common side effects: nausea, diarrhea, dizziness, and rashes.
Caution is needed during heavy infestations to manage inflammatory reactions from parasite die-off.

Key Points: Cytolysis—the destruction of the outer cell membrane—may have implications in protecting glutamate in the cytosol. This protection supports neurotransmitter functions and serves as a precursor for glutathione synthesis, impacting cancer and neurological health.
Glutamine metabolism, crucial for tumor growth, highlights the importance of regulating cytosolic activity to potentially limit cancer development.

Sources:

Glutamine and cancer - PMC

OBJECTIVE: This overview on glutamine and cancer discusses the importance of glutamine for tumor growth, summarizes the alterations in interorgan glutamine metabolism that develop in the tumor-bearing host, and reviews the potential benefits of ...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Cytosolic reducing power preserves glutamate in retina - PMC

This report shows that the reducing power in the environment influences oxidation of glutamate in a neuronal tissue. Glutamate is a neurotransmitter, and it is especially important as a metabolite because it is required for synthesis of glutathione, ...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov