Abstract
The effect of four classes of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) on the antioxidant system of malaria-infected mice was undertaken. Thirty-six, three months old male and female albino mice weighing 25-31g were randomly divided into six groups of six mice per group. Group 1 animals served as normal control. Group 2 animals served as positive control; were infected with Plasmodium berghei without being treated with ACTs. The test groups 3, 4, 5 and 6 animals were infected with Plasmodium berghei and treated with artesunate-amodiaquine, artemether-lumefantrine, artesunate-mefloquine, and dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine phosphate respectively, at therapeutic doses. At the end of the three days treatment, the animals were sacrificed using chloroform anaesthesia and the blood samples were collected by cardiac puncture for analyses, using standard methods. Artesunate-amodiaquine indicated a significant (p<0.05) increase in the concentration of serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, iron, and vitamin C when compared with the positive control. Artemether-lumefantrine indicated a significant increase in the level of serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, zinc, iron and serum vitamin C when compared with the positive control. Artesunate-mefloquine indicated a significant (p<0.05) increase in serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, iron, vitamin C, and vitamin A concentrations when compared with the positive control. Dihydroartemisin in-piperaquine phosphate treated group indicated a significant increase in the concentration of serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, vitamin C and vitamin A but decreased significance (p<0.05) in the level of copper when compared with the positive control. Hence, the overall result revealed that treatment of malaria-infected mice with ACTs ameliorate the antioxidant system in parasitized mice and therefore may help in improving or restoring health status under such conditions.
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