homidium

Homidium is a phenanthridine derivative and small molecule trypanocidal agent primarily used in veterinary medicine since the 1950s to treat trypanosomiasis in cattle[1][7]. It acts as a DNA intercalating agent, disrupting the kinetoplast network of trypanosomes and thereby inhibiting cell division and leading to parasite death[1][6][8]. Homidium is most commonly administered as its bromide or chloride salts (homidium bromide/ethidium bromide or homidium chloride), which are also widely used as fluorescent nucleic acid stains in molecular biology[3][4][7]. Its use has declined due to increasing resistance among parasites. The drug is mainly therapeutic rather than prophylactic for animal trypanosomiasis[5].

Brand names

NovidiumBabidium

Other names

homidiumethidiumethidium bromidehomidium bromidehomidium chloride2,7-diamino-10-ethyl-9-phenylphenanthridinium2,7-diamino-9-phenyl-10-ethylphenanthridinium3,8-diamino-5-ethyl–6–phenylphenanthridiniumhomidium cationhomidium ion