ABSTRACT

 Lipid peroxidation can be described generally as a process under which oxidants such as free radicals or non radical species attack lipids containing carbon-carbon double bonds. Among the different aldehydes which can be formed as secondary products during lipid peroxidation is malondialdehyde. Artemether is one of artemisinin derivatives, a potent anti malarial agent. Its mode of action involves the production of carbon-centered free radicals. The interactive effects of MSG and Artemether-lumefantrine at varied doses on the serum and liver homogenate total protein malondialdehye (MDA) concentration form the basis of this study. Thirty (30) wistar rats used in this study was divided into six(6) groups, five in each group and were given different treatment according to the experimental design of this work. The treatment lasted for seven (7) days after which the total protein and malondialdehyde concentration in serum and liver homogenate were estimated. The result of this study showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in serum total protein with group 2 (3.62±0.22), group 3 (3.33±0.07), group 4 (3.72±0.08) and non-significant (P>0.05) decrease and increase with group 5 (4.29±0.05) and group 6 (4.70±0.18) respectively when compared with group 1 (4.65±0.09). Serum MDA showed a significant (P<0.05) increase with group 2 (0.55±0.08) and a non-significant (P>0.05) increase with other groups when compared with group 1 (0.42±0.02), also the result obtained in liver homogenate analysis showed a significant (P<0.05) decrease in total protein concentration with group 4(2.64±0.09), group 6 (2.81 ±0.14), increase with group 2 (4.10±0.05) and nonsignificant (P>0.05) with group 3 and group 5 when compared with group 1 (3.40±0.41). MDA level showed a non-significant (P>0.05) decrease with group 2 (0.62±0.05), group 4 (0.63±0.02), increase with other groups when compared with group 1 (0.52±0.05). In conclusion, arthemether-lumefantrine altered the serum and liver homogenate total protein concentration.