Evaluation of Short-Term Haematological and Nephro-Toxic Effects of Chloroquine, and Artemether-Lumefantrine in Albino Rats

The present study was designed to evaluate of short-term haematological and nephrotoxic effects of chloroquine, and artemether-lumefantrine in albino rats. Sixty adult male albino rats, 12–13 weeks of age, weighing 156 – 179 g were procured and used for this study. The rats were assigned into five groups of twelve rats per group replicated 3 times (4 rats per replicate). The groups were: 1. control group (CONTL GRP), 2. high dose artemether Lumefantrine (HD ARTEM LUMF. 4/24 mg/ml), 3. low dose artemether-lumefantrine (LD ARTEM LUMF. 2/12 mg/ml), 4. high dose chloroquine (HD CHLQN. 20 mg/ml) and 5. low dose chloroquine (LD CHLQN. 10 mg/ml)). Rats in the Control group were administered an equivalent volume of placebo (distilled water) according to body weight. Treatment was done daily and lasted for 3 days. The administration was orally using plastic syringes attached to a metal oropharyngeal cannula. Both doses of chloroquine (20 mg/ml and 10 mg/ml) did not have a significant effect on various blood parameters (WBC, Neu, Lym, Mon, Eos, Bas, RBC, HGB, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW-CV, RDW-SD, PLT, MPV and PDW) in rats, except for HCT and PCT, where both doses caused a significant increase. Similarly, high and low doses of artemether-lumefantrine (4/24 mg/ml and 2/12 mg/ml) and chloroquine did not significantly affect urea and creatinine levels in rats compared to the control. The administration of chloroquine and artemether-lumefantrine did not have a significant impact on blood parameters and renal function in rats, except for a notable increase in HCT and PCT. Keywords: Artemether-Lumefantrine, Chloroquine, Haematology, Nephrotoxicity, Effects, Rats DOI: 10.7176/ALST/99-02 Publication date: August 31 st 2023