This study examined the antiplasmodial effect of desloratadine-dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DL/D/P) on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Adult mice (2225 g) were grouped, inoculated with P. berghei, and treated orally with DL (5 mg/kg), D/P (1.71/13.7 mg/kg), and DL/D/P daily for 4 days. The negative and positive controls were treated orally with normal saline (0.2 mL) and chloroquine (10 mg/kg), respectively, for 4 days. After treatment, blood samples were assessed for percentage parasitemia and serum biochemical parameters. Mice were also observed for mean survival time (MST). In the curative, suppressive, and prophylactic studies, DL, D/P, and DL/D/P significantly decreased percentage parasitemia levels at P < 0.01, P < 0.001, and P < 0.0001, respectively, when compared to negative control (NC). DL, D/P, and DL/D/P significantly increased MST at P < 0.05, P < 0.01, and P < 0.001, respectively, when compared to NC. Significant (P < 0.001) decreases in packed cell volume, red blood cells, hemoglobin, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels with significant (P < 0.001) increases in total cholesterol, white blood cells, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride levels were observed in NC when compared to normal control. However, the aforementioned parameters were restored by DL (P < 0.05), D/P (P < 0.01), and DL/D/P (P < 0.001) when compared to NC. DL/D/P may be an effective antimalarial drug combination.
Key words: Desloratidine; dihydroartemisininin/piperaquine;malaaria; mice.
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