Subacute Therapeutic Dosing of Artemether-Lumefantrine and Artesunate-Amodiaquine Combination Preserves Plasma Cholesterol, Renal Antioxidant Status, and Organ Weights in Rats

Abstract EN

Recent instances of breakdowns of malaria control programs and the constant emergence of drug-resistant parasites to monotherapies have shored up the use of artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) as the malaria therapy of choice.

We evaluated a subacute therapeutic dosing of artemether-lumefantrine and artesunate-amodiaquine on plasma cholesterol, renal antioxidants, and organ weights in rats.

Sixteen albino rats were grouped into three.

Group A (n=5) served as the control.

Groups B (n=6) and C (n=5) were administered, twice daily, oral therapeutic doses of artemether-lumefantrine (1.14/6.86 mg/kg/d) and artesunate-amodiaquine (2.86/8.58 mg/kg/d), respectively, for seven days.

From our results, ACTs did not significantly (P>0.05) alter catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione S-transferase, myeloperoxidase, and total glutathione levels when compared with the control.

Plasma total cholesterol levels also decreased insignificantly (P>0.05).

Organ-system weights were not significantly (P>0.05) different from control rats.

Artesunate-amodiaquine, but not artemether-lumefantrine, significantly increased (P<0.05) lactate dehydrogenase activity and also afforded a 27.2% decrease in heart weight when compared with control.

Also, both ACTs increased (P<0.05) lipid peroxidation.

Overall, artesunate-amodiaquine and artemether-lumefantrine may preserve renal antioxidants and organ weights in vivo.

However, caution is required above therapeutic indications or in chronic doses as this may predispose to renal oxidative stress.