Induction of Haemolysis and DNA Fragmentation in a Normal and Malarial-Infected Blood by Commonly - used Antimalarial Drugs in the North-Western Region of Nigeria

Title:Induction of Haemolysis and DNA Fragmentation in a Normal and Malarial-Infected Blood by Commonly - used Antimalarial Drugs in the North-Western Region of Nigeria

Volume: 10 Issue: 1

Author(s): Aliyu Muhammad, Mohammed Auwal Ibrahim, Ochuko Lucky Erukainure, Nathan Habila, Aimola Asegame Idowu, Uche Samuel Ndidi, Ibrahim Malami, Halliru Zailani, Zeenat Bello Kudan and Bilal Abdullahi Muhammad

Affiliation:

Keywords: Antimalarial drugs, DNA damage, haemoglobin, haemolysis, Nigeria.

Abstract: Background: Antimalarial drugs are medicines that are used to prevent or treat malaria effectively at different stages in the life cycle of the malarial parasites. In spite of this, a good number of these drugs have the potential to cause harm when they are misused or abused. Objective: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of commonly-used antimalarial drugs in the North Western region of Nigeria on haemolysis and DNA fragmentation in the blood of normal and malarial infected humans ex vivo.

Method: The drugs used were artemisinine, artesunate, chloroquine, coartem and quinine (0.5-8.0 mg/ml). Haemolysis, haemoglobin status and DNA fragmentations were assayed for using standard procedures.

Results: It was observed that all the drugs induced a remarkable dose-dependent haemolysis with more pronounced effects on apparently healthy humans. There was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the level of haemoglobin in normal blood samples when compared with control samples. Contrariwise, in the malaria-infected blood, the haemoglobin level significantly (P < 0.05) increased as compared with control. The drugs caused an exceptional significant (P < 0.05) induction of DNA fragmentation when compared with control.

Conclusion: Commonly-used antimalarial drugs induced haemolysis and altered haemoglobin status which may spontaneously increases the cellular iron levels; a substrate for Fenton and Haber Weiss reactions, and eventually induces DNA fragmentation. Hence, adequate care should be taken during prescription with total avoidance for self medications and/or drugs abuse as a result of their adverse effects within the red blood cells and its immediate microenvironment.

Cite this article as:

Muhammad Aliyu, Ibrahim Auwal Mohammed, Erukainure Lucky Ochuko, Habila Nathan, Idowu Asegame Aimola, Ndidi Samuel Uche, Malami Ibrahim, Zailani Halliru, Kudan Bello Zeenat and Muhammad Abdullahi Bilal, Induction of Haemolysis and DNA Fragmentation in a Normal and Malarial-Infected Blood by Commonly - used Antimalarial Drugs in the North-Western Region of Nigeria, Drug Metabolism Letters 2016; 10 (1) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/187231281001160212150630