Effect of beta-arteether treatment on erythrocytic methemoglobin reductase system in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice.
BACKGROUND
The methemoglobin reductase system plays a vital role in maintaining the equilibrium between hemoglobin (Hb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) in blood. Exposure of red blood cells to an oxidative stress (pathological/physiological) may cause impairment in this equilibrium.


OBJECTIVE
The status of MetHb and the related reductase system was studied during Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection and beta-arteether treatment in mice.


METHODS
Mice were divided into four groups. Normal group, normal mice treated with beta-arteether, P. y. nigeriensis infected mice and P. y. nigeriensis infected mice treated with beta-arteether.


RESULTS
The present investigation revealed a marked decrease in the activity of MetHb reductase, with concomitant rise in MetHb levels during P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice erythrocytes (P < 0.001) as compared to normal mice. However, the activities of the associated enzymes viz., lactate dehydrogenase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase were found to be increased with progressive rise in parasitemia. beta-Arteether treatment (12.5 mg/kg body weight) of infected mice (parasitemia 20-25%) from day 5 of post infection resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia on day 7 of post infection, which was accompanied by restoration of all the altered above mentioned indices to near normal levels as compared to infected mice (P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that there is a marked impairment of methemoglobin and methemoglobin reductase system during P. y. nigeriensis infection in mice. beta-Arteether treatment of infected mice resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia which also caused the restoration of methemoglobin and methemoglobin reductase system to near normal levels.
Srivastava
S
S
Department of Genetics, Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow 226014, India.
Alhomida
A S
AS
Siddiqi
N J
NJ
Pandey
V C
VC
Puri
S K
SK
D000818:Animals; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D037621:Artemisinins; D042966:Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology; D008288:Malaria / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D051379:Mice; D018512:Parasitemia; D010967:Plasmodium yoelii; D012717:Sesquiterpenes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013997:Time Factors
D000962:Antimalarials; D037621:Artemisinins; D012717:Sesquiterpenes; D042966:Cytochrome-B(5) Reductase; C055141:artemotil