STUDY ON EFFECTS OF ARTEMETHER-LUMEFANTRINE AND IBUPROFEN ON LIVER OF RABBITS

Abstract

Artemisinin based combination therapy (ACT) is reposed to be employed by WHO. This therapy consists of a derivative of artemisinin and associated drugs. Artemether lumefantrine administration though produces free radicals that eventually cause damage to the cells with evidence of both toxicity of liver, heart, kidneys and other organ toxicity. In this study 12 rabbits were included and were assorted into four groups A, B, C and D. Each group contained two animals. Group A was control group and maintained at normal diet and water. Group B, C and D were experimental groups and given artemether-lumefantrine ibuprofen and combined art-lum and ibuprofen respectively. At the end of experiment and before sacrifice animals were fasted overnight. Blood was collected from the aorta through cardiac puncture into EDTA containing tubes. The clear plasma was obtained and used for enzyme analysis. The biochemical assay included glutamic pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) or alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) to tests the state of liver. The microtome machine was used to cut and section the liver tissue at size of 6-8µm thick. The slides were prepared and stained with dyes such as hematoxylin and eosin. For histopathological studies, the tissue slides were observed under microscope and photos of tissue sections were taken using camera fitted microscope in the department of Zoology, SALU. The administration of both drugs, artemether-lumefantrine and ibuprofen individually and combined showed histopathological, biochemical and clinical effects on animals. The elevation of serum ALT, AST and ALP enzymes is found in animals treated with both drugs individually and combined. The increased in eosinophil mass and inflammation has been observed in individual drug administration while severe lymphocytic infiltrates and triditis has been found in combined drug administration. General decrease in weight of animal was also observed after the course of drug administration.