title: Induction of Haemolysis and DNA Fragmentation in a Normal and Malarial-Infected Blood by Commonly - used Antimalarial Drugs in the North-Western Region of Nigeria.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Antimalarial drugs are medicines that are used to prevent or treat malaria effectively at different stages in the life cycle of the malarial parasites. In spite of this, a good number of these drugs have the potential to cause harm when they are misused or abused.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of commonly-used antimalarial drugs in the North Western region of Nigeria on haemolysis and DNA fragmentation in the blood of normal and malarial infected humans ex vivo.
  
  
  METHODS
  The drugs used were artemisinine, artesunate, chloroquine, coartem and quinine (0.5-8.0 mg/ml). Haemolysis, haemoglobin status and DNA fragmentations were assayed for using standard procedures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was observed that all the drugs induced a remarkable dose-dependent haemolysis with more pronounced effects on apparently healthy humans. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the level of haemoglobin in normal blood samples when compared with control samples. Contrariwise, in the malaria-infected blood, the haemoglobin level significantly (P < 0.05) increased as compared with control. The drugs caused an exceptional significant (P < 0.05) induction of DNA fragmentation when compared with control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Commonly-used antimalarial drugs induced haemolysis and altered haemoglobin status which may spontaneously increases the cellular iron levels; a substrate for Fenton and Haber Weiss reactions, and eventually induces DNA fragmentation. Hence, adequate care should be taken during prescription with total avoidance for self medications and/or drugs abuse as a result of their adverse effects within the red blood cells and its immediate microenvironment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Nigeria. amachida31@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Aliyu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhammad
authors.forename: Mohammed Auwal
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Ibrahim
authors.forename: Ochuko Lucky
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Erukainure
authors.forename: Nathan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Habila
authors.forename: Aimola Asegame
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Idowu
authors.forename: Uche Samuel
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Ndidi
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Malami
authors.forename: Halliru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zailani
authors.forename: Zeenat Bello
authors.initials: ZB
authors.lastname: Kudan
authors.forename: Bilal Abdullahi
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Muhammad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D009549:Nigeria; D009996:Osmotic Fragility / Q000187:drug effects; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000962:Antimalarials; D015415:Biomarkers; D006454:Hemoglobins