Decrease in activities of cation ATPases and alkaline phosphatase in kidney and liver of artemether treated rats

Abstract

Artemisinin (qinghaosu) and its derivatives are endoperoxide-containing compounds which have
emerged as an important new class of antimalarial drugs. Of all the derivatives, the most abundant in circulation now in
Nigeria is artemether. The effects of artemether on the activities of some cation ATPases in selected rat tissues were
studied. The drug was administered to rats through intramuscular injection at the recommended dose for a five-day
treatment. There was no significant difference observed in the activities of ATPases in the various tissues studied
except the kidney where slight decreases were observed, but the Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase activity in the kidney was
significantly reduced (P < 0.05). On the contrary, there was a significant increase (P < 0.05) in Ca2+-Mg2+ ATPase
activity in the heart. There was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the alkaline phosphatase activities in the kidney and
liver, but a significant increase (P < 0.05) in that of the brain while that of the heart was not significantly affected (P >
0.05). Artemether may exhibit more toxic effects in the kidney and liver due to their exposure to more concentrations
of the drug by virtue of their being the main sites of excretion and metabolism, respectively. Artemether may also
inhibit cation transport in the kidney.
Key Words: Malaria; Antimalarial drugs; Artemisinin (qinghaosu); Alkaline phosphatase; Adenosine triphosphatases
(ATPases).