Abstract

ELECTROLYTE PROFILE OF MALARIA INFESTED WISTAR ALBINO RATS TREATED WITH THE CRUDE EXTRACT OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA AND ARTEMISININ COMBINATION THERAPY

Ekam V. S.*, Odio S. B., Ekam N. V. and Ihe S. O.

Abstract

Effects of the crude extract of Artemisia annua on the serum electrolyte level of wistar albino rats was assessed in this study. It involved twenty four (24) wistar rats, weighing between 180-220g and distributed into four groups of six rats each. Group one served as the normal control and received 0.2ml of distilled water only, group two served as malaria control and was given 0.2ml of distilled water (0.4mg/kg body weight), group three was infected and treated with (1.143mg/kg body weight) ACT, group four was infected and treated with (300mg/kg body weight) crude extract of Artemisia annua. The treatment was done twice daily and lasted for 3 days, which was after three days of malaria parasite inoculation. The rats were fasted overnight after the last administrations and were sacrificed under chloroform inhalation anesthesia. Blood sample was collected for analysis by cardiac puncture into treated sample bottles. The results shows that the administration of crude extract of Artemisia annua produced a significant change (p0.05) in sodium and chloride ions while ACT shows significant increase (p0.05) in sodium ion, potassium ion and chloride ion. It may therefore be concluded that both ACT and extract Artemisia annua have no negative effect on serum Electrolyte level in treating malaria.

Keywords: Electrolyte, Artemisia annua, Plasmodium, Artemisinin, Phytochemicals, Serum.