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International Journal of Pharmacology

Year: 2011 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 1 | Page No.: 84-95
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Authors

A.W. Obianime

J.S. Aprioku

Keywords

Research Article

Mechanism of Action of Artemisinins on Biochemical, Hematological and Reproductive Parameters in Male Guinea Pigs

A.W. Obianime and J.S. Aprioku
The present study intends to investigate the effects/mechanisms of frequently used artemisinin derivatives: artesunate and dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on biochemical, hematological and spermatic parameters in the male guinea pig. Half, normal and double therapeutic doses of each drug were given to different groups of animals (n = 5) by oral gavage. Similar treatments were given to other animal groups after pretreatments with vitamins C (1.5 mg kg-1), E (50 mg kg-1) and C+E; while only distilled water was given to a control group. Animals were sacrificed at the end of drug treatments and blood samples and semen were analyzed. Artesunate and DHA caused significant (p<0.05) and dose-dependent increase in the serum levels of prostatic acid phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase. Also, serum creatinine level was significantly increased, while uric acid level was decreased by both drugs. Furthermore, while having no significant effects on RBC, hemoglobin and hematocrit, artesunate and DHA caused dose-dependent increase in WBC and lymphocyte counts and decrease in neutrophils. Sperm count and motility were also significantly decreased by both drugs; however pretreatments with vitamins C and E blocked all the individual effects of artesunate and DHA. The results show that artesunate and DHA may be toxic to the liver, testis and hematopoietic cells resulting from increase in oxidative stress via stimulation of protein kinase C activity.
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