Antiparasitic Effect of Artemisinin Drug on Alanine Transaminase, Aspartate Transaminase, Cholesterol and Triglyceride in Infected Mice with Leishmania donovani

Background: The pathogenic risk caused by the Leishmania donovani (L. donovani) parasite has long been known, and it has become necessary to find a suitable treatment other than traditional medications and their many side effects, among the best medicines in China, Artemisinin (ART) is not only an anti-inflammatory medicine, but also an anti-allergy medicine and and antibiotics.
Objective: To investigate the effect of the ART in inhibiting the activity of the L. donovani parasite through studying its impact on alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), cholesterol (CL) and triglyceride (TG).
Methods: The ART drug was compared with Pentostam drug (the traditional drug used in the treatment of leishmaniasis), a concentration of 20 mg/ml (0.01 ml/ day) of the ART was prepared and was tested in vivo by observation the levels of liver enzyme ALT, AST, CL and TG in serum of infected mice and comparing with control positive group after 7, 14 and 21 days of treatment.
Results: The results showed that there were statistically significant differences between the groups treated with ART drug and Pentostam compared to the positive control group, in addition to the statistical differences between these groups over the three weeks. The AST and ALT values increased in positive control mice over the three weeks, while they returned to normal levels in mice treated with ART drug and Pentostam. As for the CL value, it decreased significantly and statistically significantly in the group of positive control mice. As for the treated groups, there were also statistical differences during the three weeks. While the TG value had statistical differences between the different groups for one week, the TG value for the same group was not affected much.
Conclusion: The results indicate the 20 mg/ml of ART had the approximately same positive effects of Pentostam in returning ALT, AST, CL and TG to normal level in mice infested with L. donovani promastigotes parasite.
Keywords: Leishmania donovani, Artemisinine, ALT, AST, CL, TG
Citation: Ali ZA, Majeed HA. Antiparasitic effect of Artemisinin drug on alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, cholesterol and triglyceride in infected mice with Leishmania donovani. Iraqi JMS. 2024; 22(2): 194-202. doi: 10.22578/IJMS.22.2.2