Effect of beta-arteether treatment on erythrocytic methemoglobin sin reductase system in Plasmodium yoelii nigeriensis infected mice

Background: The methemoglobin reductase system plays a vital role in mainta ining the equilibrium between hemoglobin (Hb) and methemoglobin (MetHb) in blood. Exposure of red blood cells to an oxidative stress (pathological:phy siological) may cause impairment in this equilibrium. Objective: The status of MetHb and the related reductase system was studied during Plasmodium yo elii nigeriensis (P. y. nigeriensis) infection and beta -arteether treatmen t in mice. Methods. Mice were divided into four groups. Normal group. norma l mice treated with beta -arteether, P.gamma. nigeriensis infected mice and P. gamma. nigeriensis infected mice treated with beta -arteether. Results: The present investigation revealed a marked decrease in the activity of Me tHb reductase, with concomitant rise in MetHb levels during P. gamma. niger iensis infection in mice erythrocytes (P <0.001) as compared to normal mice . However. the activities of the associated enzymes viz., lactate dehydroge nase, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase and glutathione reductase were foun d to be increased with progressive rise in parasitemia. beta -Arteether tre atment (12.5 mg/kg body weight) of infected mice (parasitemia 20-25%) from day 5 of post infection resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia on da y 7 of post infection, which was accompanied by restoration of all the alte red above mentioned indices to near normal levels as compared to infected m ice (P < 0.001). Conclusion. These results suggest that there is a marked i mpairment of methemoglobin and methemoglobin reductase system during P. gam ma. nigeriensis infection in mice. beta -Arteether treatment of infected mi ce resulted in complete clearance of parasitemia which also caused the rest oration of methemoglobin and methemoglobin reductase system to near normal levels.