Artemisinin induces hormonal imbalance and oxidative damage in the erythrocytes and uterus but not in the ovary of rats

Abstract

<jats:p> Artemisinin is an antimalarial drug previously reported to induce neurotoxicity and embryotoxicity in animal models. This study investigated the erythrocytes and reproductive toxicity potentials of artemisinin in female rats. Animals were randomly divided into four study groups of eight rats each. The control group (group I) received corn oil, the vehicle, while groups II–IV were orally exposed to 7, 35 and 70 mg kg<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> day<jats:sup>−1</jats:sup> of artemisinin, respectively, by gastric intubation for 7 consecutive days. Subsequently, we evaluated the impact of artemisinin on the endocrine environment and selected markers of oxidative damage and antioxidant status of the erythrocytes, ovary and uterus. Artemisinin significantly increased hydrogen peroxide (H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and decreased catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities in erythrocytes and uterus of rats compared with control group ( p &lt; 0.05). However, artemisinin did not alter ovarian MDA, H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>O<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, glutathione levels and catalase activity, while ovarian and uterine histological assessment revealed absence of visible lesions. Moreover, artemisinin significantly decreased follicle-stimulating hormone and increased progesterone levels compared with control ( p &lt; 0.05). Thus, these data suggest that in the absence of malarial parasite infection, artemisinin induced hormonal imbalance and oxidative damage in the erythrocytes and uterus but spared the ovary of rats. </jats:p>

The Impact of a Diet Containing Sucrose and Systematically Repeated Starvation on the Oxidative Status of the Uterus and Ovary of Rats

“…Differences in the oxidative status between the uterus and the ovaries also have been reported by Farombi et al [41]. Using an antimalarial drug (artemisinin), they showed that it caused oxidative damage of lipids in the uterus, manifested by an increase in the concentration of MDA.…”

“…Ovaries seem to be protected primarily against the formation of free radicals. In the study by Farombi et al [41] the concentration of H 2 O 2 , as a marker of the intensity of free radicals reactions, did not change in the ovaries, but increased significantly in the uterus.…”

Assessment of the Anti-Hyperglycaemic, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of the Methanol Extract of Moringa Oleifera in Diabetes-Induced Nephrotoxic Male Wistar Rats

“…In the present study, MDA levels increased significantly in the kidney of diabetic rats when compared to the normal control ( Table 4 ). The increase in MDA level in diabetic groups suggests damage to cell membrane lipids in a diabetic state, which could lead to increased generation of ROS [ 66 ]. Subsequent treatment with MO led to a significant ( p < 0.05) decrease in MDA levels in diabetic rats reducing lipid peroxidation.…”

Synergistic Inhibition of Delayed Rectifier K+ and Voltage-Gated Na+ Currents by Artemisinin in Pituitary Tumor (GH3) Cells

“…Previous studies have demonstrated the ability of ART to suppress cell proliferation and hormonal secretion in different cell types including GH 3 cells [3,4,29,30]. It is important to determine to what extent ART-induced neurological or ototoxic actions is linked to its…”