Effect of artesunate and amodiaquine alone and in combination on plasma biochemical parameters in mice

Albino mice are considered a comparable genetic model to humans and it is well established that they also exhibit natural differences in susceptibility to malaria infection. The study was aimed at determining and comparing the effects of artesunate, artesunate+amodiaquine combination, on biochemical parameters such as plasma pH, plasma glucose and plasma cholesterol in the course of administering antimalarial drugs. The effects of artesunate, amodiaquine and a combination of artesunate-amodiaquine on some hematological and biochemical parameters were assessed in this study. Twenty albino mice of eight weeks old were randomly divided into 4 groups based on a specific antimalarial drug administered and one group served as control. Blood sample was obtained at the end of the study and assay was done for glucose concentration, plasma pH, and plasma cholesterol concentrations. Data were expressed as mean±standard errors of mean. Comparisons between control and treated groups of albino mice were performed with one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by Tukey Kramer post hoc test for multiple comparisons. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05. Plasma pH was not significantly lower (p<0.05) in the antimalarials; artesunate, amodiaquine and artesunate+amodiaquine groups compared to the control group. Plasma glucose was significantly lower in the antimalarials; Artesunate , artesunate+amodiaquine but higher in Amodiaquine compared to the control group. Plasma cholesterol was significantly lower (p<0.05) in the treated groups , Amodiaquine, artesunate+amodiaquine groups compared to the control group. Hence, maximum reduction was seen in the combination group compared to the individual drugs.