Comparative efficacy of dihydroartemisinin, chloroquine and combination of dihydroartemisinin and chloroquine or mefloquine in mice infected with <i>Plasmodium berghei</i>

Abstract

Comparative efficacy of dihydroartemisinin alone, chloroquine alone, combination of dihydroartemisinin plus mefloquine and combination of dihydroartemisinin plus chloroquine was evaluated in mice. Parasite clearance time was very short in mice treated with dihydroartemisinin alone mean ± SD PCT was (1.64- ± 0.50 days). This was followed by combination of dihydroartemisinin with mefloquine (2.73 ± 0.47), Then combination of dihydroartemisinin with chloroquine (2.84 ± 0.50). The mice that were treated with chloroquine alone had PCT of 4.0 ± 2.32. There was significant difference between the dihydroartemisinin group and the chloroquine group (P<0.0002). There was also significant difference between the dihydroartemisinin group and combination of dihydroartemisinin plus mefloquine and also combination of dihydroartemisinin plus chloroquine (P<0.005). The combination therapy was more effective than when chloroquine was administered alone.

Keywords: Plasmodium berghei, malaria, dihydroartemisinin, chloroquine, combination therapy

Nigerian Journal of Health and Biomedical Sciences Vol. 5(1) 2006: 64-67