Pharmacologia2044-46482044-4656Science International10.3923/pharmacologia.2013.180.185BabalolaChinedum P. KanuDominic N. OkaforGloria O. WumiAde AjayiOluwole KotilaOlayinka A. FarombiEbenezer O. 3201343Background: Halofantrine is a drug used for treatment of multi-drug
resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria but with cardiotoxicity effects.
Aim: In this study, its toxicity effect in varying doses (sub-therapeutic
dose, therapeutic and overdose) on the liver, kidney and heart were investigated
using male Albino rats. Method: Ninety male Albino rats were randomly
selected and divided into six groups (1-6) of fifteen rats each. Doses of 24.99,
50.01 and 13.95 mg kg-1 representing therapeutic, overdose and sub-therapeutic
concentrations were administered to groups 1, 3 and 5, respectively while groups
2, 4 and 6 served as controls. For biochemical analysis and histopathological
examination, blood and organs (liver, kidney and heart) of five rats from each
group were excised after cardiac puncture on days 1, 3 and 7. Result:
Overdosed rats (group 1) showed significant decrease in body weight (p<0.05)
on day 1 while for rats in groups 3 and 5, there were numerical increases in
body weight but not significantly when compared with their controls. Significant
changes in some enzyme markers (ALT, AST, γGT), creatinine and urea were
observed for rats overdosed as well as those on therapeutic dose but with pronounced
effects in overdose group. Histological examination of organs showed mild cellular
infiltration of portal areas of the liver, congestion of glomerular capillaries
in the kidney and congestion of myocardial capillaries in the heart in halofantrine-treated
animals but not in their controls. Conclusion: Halofantrine hydrochloride
exhibits cardiotoxic, hepatotoxic and renotoxic effects at therapeutic and overdose
levels but not at sub-therapeutic doses in male Albino rats.]]>Babalola, C.P., A.O. Adegoke, M.A. Ogunjinmi and M.O. Osimosu,200332357359ter Kuile, F.O., F. Nosten, T. Chongsuphajaisiddhi, N.J. White and G. Dolan et al.,199334110441049Matson, P.A., S.P. Luby, S.C. Redd, H.R. Rolka and R.A. Meriwether,199654229231Boudreau, E.F., L.W. Pang, K.E. Dixon, H.K. Webster and K. Pavanand et al.,198866227235Bryson, H.M. and K.L. Goa,199243236258Milton, K.A., S.A. Ward and G. Edwards,1988433339344Adjene, J.O. and F.O. Agoreyo,200371131120Leaf, A. and R.S. Cotran,19802nd Edn.,pp: 15pp: 15Osborne, C.A. and D.J. Polzin,19835497508Obi, E., O.E. Orisakwe, L.A. Asomugha, O.O. Udemezue and V.N. Orish,200436303305Sturgill, M.G. and G.H. Lambert,19974315121526Simmons, J.E., R.S. Yang and E. Berman,19951036771Bassi, P.U., B.L. Buratai and W. Kuchali,200693135Stalke, P., K. Sikorska, Z. Michalska, J. Stolarczyk and H. Trocha,200671822Ganong, W.F.,198713th Edn.,pp: 229-261pp: 229-261Dowling, P.M.,19981998pp: 1729pp: 1729