Mebendazole (DB00643): A Comprehensive Pharmacological and Clinical Monograph

Section 1: Drug Identification and Physicochemical Profile

This section establishes the fundamental chemical and physical identity of mebendazole, providing the nomenclature, identifiers, and properties that underpin its formulation, pharmacokinetic behavior, and mechanism of action.

1.1 Nomenclature and Identifiers

Mebendazole is a synthetic small molecule compound recognized across numerous chemical and pharmacological databases by a standardized set of identifiers.[1] Its formal chemical name according to the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) is Methyl (5-benzoyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate, though it is also cited as methyl N-(6-benzoyl-1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)carbamate.[1] The compound is uniquely identified by its Chemical Abstracts Service (CAS) Registry Number, 31431-39-7.[1]

In pharmaceutical and biomedical research, it is cataloged under DrugBank Accession Number DB00643.[1] Other key identifiers include PubChem Compound ID 4030, UNII 81G6I5V05I, and ChEMBL ID CHEMBL685.[1] During its development and in research contexts, it has been referred to by codes such as R 17635 and NSC 184849, and by synonyms including 5-Benzoyl-2-benzimidazolecarbamic acid methyl ester.[3]

Commercially, mebendazole is marketed globally under a wide array of brand names. The most prominent include Vermox, Ovex, and Emverm.[1] Other international brand names include Pantelmin, Lomper (Spain), Surfont (Germany), Bendax (Egypt), Mebex (India), and Antiox (Philippines), reflecting its worldwide use.[5]

1.2 Chemical Structure and Formula

Mebendazole is a synthetic derivative of the benzimidazole class of compounds, which is characterized by a fused benzene and imidazole ring system.[2] Its molecular formula is