title: Hematological changes and nitric oxide levels accompanying high-dose artemether-lumefantrine administration in male guinea pigs: Effect of unsweetened natural cocoa powder.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unsweetened natural cocoa powder (UNCP), prepared after removal of the cocoa butter, is a common beverage in Ghana. It possesses antimalarial prophylactic property and has a beneficial effect on blood components.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine whether regular dietary supplement of UNCP mitigates high-dose (HD) artemether-lumefantrine (A-L)-induced hematological disorders and to determine the effect on nitric oxide (NO) levels.
  
  
  METHODS
  Adult male guinea pigs (300 g - 350 g) were randomly divided into 5 groups of 6 guinea pigs each. Among the 5 groups, 3 groups were treated with UNCP (300, 900, and 1500 mg/kg body weight) for 14 days. A-L (75 mg/kg) was administered from the 12thto 14thday. One of the remaining 2 groups received distilled water only, i.e., vehicle control group (VCG) while the other received 75 mg/kg A-L only, i.e., negative control group (NCG). Blood samples from all groups were obtained by cardiac puncture (day 15) followed by hematological and NO analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A-L reduced white blood cells (WBC) by 31.87%, lymphocyte count by 45.99%, hemoglobin by 11.72%, hematocrit by 18.56%, and platelet count by 33.08% in the NCG. Administration of various doses of UNCP increased WBC and lymphocyte count (P> 0.05) compared to the NCG. UNCP and A-L combination caused an increase in NO levels when compared to the VCG.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular consumption of UNCP by guinea pigs increases plasma NO and restores some hematological disorders induced by a 3-day HD A-L administration.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Isaac Julius
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Asiedu-Gyekye
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Ghana.
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antwi-Boasiako
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Seth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oppong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Ghana School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Legon, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacognosy and Herbal Medicine, School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Joseph Edusei
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Sarkodie
keywords: Artemether-lumefantrine; hematology; nitric oxide; phytochemistry; unsweetened cocoa powder