ABSTRACT

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) the sodium salt glutamate, is the sodium salt of the non-essential amino acid and glutamic acid, it is a flavor enhancing food additive that may be present in packaged food without appearing on the label. Artemeterlumefantrine therapy is currently regarded more effective relative to non-artemenisin drugs like chloroquine, for its rapid action, which could help to reduce malaria transmission. The study aimed at investigating the histological changes, superoxide dismutase activity and zinc concentration in the brain biochemical characteristics in normal and monosodium glutamate in-toxicated rats co-treated with artemetherlumefantrine. Adult male Wistar albino rats were randomly assigned into six (6) groups each were treated as follows: Group I (control); group II: Therapeutic dose of artemether lumefantrine (AL); group III: Overdose of AL; group IV: A known toxicant (MSG at 8000mg/kgbw); group V: Therapeutic dose + MSG at 8000mg/kgbw; group VI: Overdose + MSG at 8000mg1kgbw. Administration. was orally and twice daily. At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and the brain was taken and zinc concentration, superoxide dismutase activity and histological changes determined. There was a significant (p<O.05) decrease in the superoxide dismutase activity of the MSG group when compared to the Normal group and the Zinc concentration of the groups co-treated with MSG + therapeutic dose of ACT showed significant (p<O.05) decrease which can be concluded that the therapeutic dose of artemether lumefantrine elicited a significant in vivo antioxidant property and may protect against MSG-induced oxidative stress by increasing superoxide dismutase activity. Histological examination of the brain showed spongiosis and marked chromatolysis of the nuclear material which is due to disorder following ACT overdose + MSG when compared to MSG. The overdose of artemether lumefantrine + MSG, markedly increased studied oxidative stress indicator of the rats, hence such combination use in animals should be discouraged.