In animals It was originally used against microsporidian parasites
Nosema apis infections in
honey bees. Some studies found it to be effective against some
myxozoan
parasites, including
Myxobolus cerebralis, an important parasite of
fish; however, in the more rigorous tests required for U.S.
Food and Drug Administration approval, it was ineffective. There are reports that fumagillin controls
Nosema ceranae, which has recently been hypothesized as a possible cause of
colony collapse disorder. The latest report, however, has shown it to be ineffective against
N. ceranae. Fumagillin is also investigated as an inhibitor of
malaria parasite growth.
In humans Fumagillin has been used in the treatment of
microsporidiosis. It is also an
amebicide. Fumagillin can block blood vessel formation by binding to an enzyme
methionine aminopeptidase 2 and for this reason, the compound, together with semisynthetic derivatives, are investigated as an
angiogenesis inhibitor in the treatment of cancer. The company Zafgen conducted clinical trials using the fumagillin
analog beloranib for weight loss, but they were unsuccessful. Fumagillin is toxic to
erythrocytes
in vitro at concentrations greater than 10 μM. == Total synthesis ==