Artemisinin induces hormonal imbalance and oxidative damage in the erythrocytes and uterus but not in the ovary of rats

Artemisinin reduces acute ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats

Artemisinin (ARS) is well known as an effective agent in the treatment of malaria through the rapid elimination of Plasmodium falciparum parasites. This study aims to investigate the effect of ARS in treating adnexal torsion, one of the most common gynecological surgical emergencies. ARS was administered intraperitoneally once 30 min before unilateral ovarian torsion in two different doses (10 mg/kg vs. 50 mg/kg). Torsion was maintained for 3 h and then held in the detorted state for 3 h. Bilateral adnexectomy was performed to measure antioxidant enzyme activities and oxidant levels on the ipsilateral ovary and to make histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses on the contralateral ovary. Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury dramatically upregulated the activities of CAT, GST, and MDA levels in the ipsilateral ovary, which were all downregulated by ARS treatment. A significant increase in follicular cell degeneration, congestion, and edema in the contralateral ovary was seen in the I/R group, which was significantly reduced with ARS treatment. Furthermore, I/R injury resulted in a significant increase in apoptosis as shown by the increased levels of BAX and CASP-3, and decreased levels of BCL-2 whereas ARS significantly reduced the impact of the injury. Our data, based on a rat I/R injury model, show that both ipsilateral and contralateral ovaries are protected with ARS pretreatment, and 50 mg/kg ARS treatment demonstrates to be more effective than the 10 mg/kg ARS.

The effect of co-administration of artemisinin and N-acetyl cysteine on antioxidant status, spermatological parameters and histopathology of testis in adult male mice

OBJECTIVES

This in vivo study aimed to evaluate the effect of various concentrations of artemisinin (Art) alone or together with N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) on spermatological indices, antioxidant status, and histopathological parameters of testicular tissue in adult male mice.

METHODS

Six groups of five healthy male mice (25-30 g) were randomly assigned to different experimental groups. These groups received DMSO and corn oil (0.1%) as an Art solvent (Control), 50 mg kg^-1 Art (Art-50), 250 mg kg^-1 Art (Art-250), 50 mg kg^-1 Art + 150 mg kg^-1 NAC (Art-50+NAC-150), 250 mg kg^-1 Art + 150 mg kg^-1 NAC (Art-250+NAC-150) and 150 mg kg^-1 NAC (NAC-150) for a period of 7 days. Testes and epididymis were prepared to evaluate the malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POX), spermatological indices, and histological parameters.

RESULTS

We showed that the high dose of Art (Art-250) significantly reduced the sperm count, motility, viability, and the activity of CAT and increased the levels of MDA compared to the control group. Also, the overdose of Art caused adverse changes in testicular tissue. Co-administration of NAC with Art (Art-250+NAC-150) corrected the adverse effects of Art.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study reports that a high dose of Art affects, spermatological parameters, antioxidant/stress oxidative status of the male reproductive system, and NAC is capable neutralize all adverse effects caused by Art.

Reproductive and endocrine effects of artemisinin, piperaquine, and artemisinin-piperaquine combination in rats

BACKGROUND

The WHO recommends artemisinin-based combination regimens for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria. One such combination is artemisinin-piperaquine tablets (ATQ). ATQ has outstanding advantages in anti-malarial, such as good efficacy, fewer side effects, easy promotion and application in deprived regions. However, the data about the reproductive and endocrine toxicity of ATQ remains insufficient. Thus, we assessed the potential effects of ATQ and its individual components artemisinin (ART) and piperaquine (PQ) on the reproductive and endocrine systems in Wistar rats.

METHODS

The unfertilized female rats were intragastric administrated with ATQ (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg), PQ (15, 30, and 60 mg/kg), ART (2.5, 5, and 10 mg/kg), or water (control) for 14 days, respectively. The estrous cycle and serum levels of estradiol (E2), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), prolactin (PRL), prostaglandin (PG), and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) were determined. The weights of the kidney, adrenal gland, uterus, and ovaries were measured. The histopathological examinations of the adrenal gland, ovary, uterus, and mammary gland were performed.

RESULTS

Compared with the control group, there were no significant differences in the examined items of female rats in the ART groups, including general observation, estrous cycle, hormonal level, organ weight, and histopathological examination. The estrous cycle of female rats was disrupted within 4-7 days after ATQ or PQ administration, and then in a persistent dioestrus phase. At the end of administration, ATQ and PQ at three doses induced decreased PG, increased ACTH, increased adrenal weight and size, and pathological lesions in the adrenal gland and ovary, including vasodilation and hyperemia in the adrenal cortex and medulla as well as hyperplasia and vacuolar degeneration, ovarian corpus luteum surface hyperemia, numerous but small corpus luteum, and disordered follicle development. But the serum levels of E2, FSH, LH, and PRL did not change obviously. These adverse effects in ATQ or PQ treated rats could not completely disappear after 21 days of recovery.

CONCLUSION

Based on the results of this study, ART had no obvious reproductive and endocrine effects on female rats, while ATQ and PQ caused adrenal hyperplasia, increased ACTH, decreased PG, blocked estrus, corpus luteum surface hyperemia, and disrupted follicle development in female rats. These events suggest that ATQ and PQ may interfere with the female reproductive and endocrine systems, potentially reducing fertility.

Artemisinin and l-carnitine combination therapy alters the erythrocytes redox status

Hematopoiesis is a sensitive target of artemisinin (ART) and its derivatives, and hemolysis is one of their commonly reported side effects. L-carnitine (LC), an amino acid derivative involved in lipid metabolism, is beneficial for hematological parameters. Sixty adult laboratory mice were randomly divided into six groups. Group I (control) received saline and corn oil; groups II and III received therapeutic (50 mg/kg) and toxic (250 mg/kg) doses of ART, respectively; groups IV and V received 370 mg/kg LC along with the 50 and 250 mg/kg ART, respectively; and group VI received 370 mg/kg LC. Drugs were administered orally for seven consecutive days. The erythrocyte glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidase (POX) activity, and the reduced glutathione (GSH) level were assessed by colorimetric methods. ART reduced the G6PD activity both at therapeutic and toxic doses. The therapeutic dose of ART reduced the CAT activity and the GSH level, non-significantly. The toxic dose of ART reduced the CAT activity and increased the POX activity. LC reduced the G6PD, CAT, and POX activities and increased GSH level. The therapeutic dose of ART and LC showed synergy in reducing the G6PD activity. LC and ART combination reduced POX activity and increased GSH level without any significant effect on the CAT activity. Inhibition of G6PD may be a potentially new mechanism of ART action. Co-administration of LC with ART or following treatment with ART may have protective effects on erythrocytes. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Efficacy of artemisinin and its derivatives in animal models of type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Although current evidence suggests that artemisinin and its derivatives play a multitarget therapeutic role in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), their efficacy and safety remain under debate. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the effects and safety of artemisinin and its derivatives in T2DM animal models. Preclinical studies that met the inclusion criteria were retrieved from PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, CINAHL, OpenGrey, Google Scholar, Psyclnfo, British Library Ethos, ProQuest Dissertations & Theses, China National Knowledge Internet, VIP Information Chinese Periodical Service Platform, Chinese Biomedicine Literature Database, and Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform. Twenty-two studies involving 526 animals were included in the meta-analysis. The RevMan 5.3 and Stata 15.0, were used to perform the statistical analyses. The overall results showed that artemisinin or its derivatives could significantly reduce fasting plasma glucose, 2-h plasma glucose (2hPG) in the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test (IPGTT), 2hPG in the intraperitoneal insulin tolerance test (IPITT), glycated hemoglobin A1c, under the curve in the IPGTT/IPITT, total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acid, and urine volume. Although increase in body weight was observed due to administration of the compounds, no significant effect was observed regarding serum insulin. In terms of adverse reactions, only two of the included studies reported that high-dose artemether may cause digestive inhibition in mice. Our results suggest that artemisinins could improve several parameters related to glycolipid metabolism in T2DM animal models. However, to evaluate the antidiabetic effects and safety of artemisinins in a more accurate manner, additional preclinical studies are necessary.

Cyantraniliprole impairs reproductive parameters by inducing oxidative stress in adult female wistar rats

Cyantraniliprole is a synthetic insecticide used to control pests of up to 23 different types of crops. It is able to modulate ryanodine-like calcium channels, which are widely found in the organism of insects and mammals. The objective of this research was to verify the possible reproductive effects of adult female Wistar rats exposure to cyantraniliprole. Animals (67 days old) were exposed to the chemical at doses of 10 or 150 mg/kg/day, orally, for 28 consecutive days (control animals received only the vehicle). Vaginal secretions were collected during the exposure period to assess the regularity of the estrous cycle; the liver, kidneys, pituitary gland, adrenal gland, uterus, and ovaries were collected and weighed; reproductive organs were assessed for histopathological evaluation and for biochemical markers of oxidative stress and progesterone plasma level was measured. Both doses caused negative changes in the morphology and redox system of the uterus and ovaries. Animals exposed to 10 mg/kg also exhibited higher level of plasma progesterone, elevated levels of lipid peroxidation in reproductive organs, increased superoxide dismutase activity in the uterus and glutathione peroxidase activity on the ovary, while the 150 mg/kg group exhibited an increment in estrous cycle length and diminished uterine glandular epithelium. Based on these results, we conclude that cyantraniliprole may have acted as an endocrine disruptor, and its effects are mediated by oxidative stress.

The immunosuppressive activity of artemisinin-type drugs towards inflammatory and autoimmune diseases

The sesquiterpene lactone artemisinin from Artemisia annua L. is well established for malaria therapy, but its bioactivity spectrum is much broader. In this review, we give a comprehensive and timely overview of the literature regarding the immunosuppressive activity of artemisinin-type compounds toward inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Numerous receptor-coupled signaling pathways are inhibited by artemisinins, including the receptors for interleukin-1 (IL-1), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), β3-integrin, or RANKL, toll-like receptors and growth factor receptors. Among the receptor-coupled signal transducers are extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT serine/threonine kinase (AKT), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK), phospholipase C γ1 (PLCγ), and others. All these receptors and signal transduction molecules are known to contribute to the inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor κ B (NF-κB). Artemisinins may inhibit NF-κB by silencing these upstream pathways and/or by direct binding to NF-κB. Numerous NF-κB-regulated downstream genes are downregulated by artemisinin and its derivatives, for example, cytokines, chemokines, and immune receptors, which regulate immune cell differentiation, apoptosis genes, proliferation-regulating genes, signal transducers, and genes involved in antioxidant stress response. In addition to the prominent role of NF-κB, other transcription factors are also inhibited by artemisinins (mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR], activating protein 1 [AP1]/FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homologue [FOS]/JUN oncogenic transcription factor [JUN]), hypoxia-induced factor 1α (HIF-1α), nuclear factor of activated T cells c1 (NF-ATC1), Signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT), NF E2-related factor-2 (NRF-2), retinoic-acid-receptor-related orphan nuclear receptor γ (ROR-γt), and forkhead box P-3 (FOXP-3). Many in vivo experiments in disease-relevant animal models demonstrate therapeutic efficacy of artemisinin-type drugs against rheumatic diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus erythematosus, arthrosis, and gout), lung diseases (asthma, acute lung injury, and pulmonary fibrosis), neurological diseases (autoimmune encephalitis, Alzheimer's disease, and myasthenia gravis), skin diseases (dermatitis, rosacea, and psoriasis), inflammatory bowel disease, and other inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Randomized clinical trials should be conducted in the future to translate the plethora of preclinical results into clinical practice.

Effects of different models of sucrose intake on the oxidative status of the uterus and ovary of rats

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of different models of sucrose intake on carbohydrate-lipid metabolism and changes in oxidant balance in the ovaries and uterus of rats. Animals were divided into three groups: I—basic feed, II—feed contains 8% of sucrose, III—alternately every second week the basic feed and modified feed contains 16% of sucrose. The diet containing 8% of sucrose was found to result in an increased activity of antioxidant enzymes in the blood, with unchanged malonylodialdehyde concentration. Variable sucrose administration pattern intensified oxidative stress in the blood and led to disturbed redox equilibrium in the rat uterus, even at a comparable long-term sucrose uptake as in the group II. This was manifested as a reduced superoxide dismutase activity (in the blood and uterus) and a higher malonylodialdehyde concentration (in the uterus). The changes observed could have been a result of metabolic disorders (higher amount of visceral fat, higher glucose concentration, higher index of homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance, and reduced HDL-cholesterol concentration) and endocrine disorders (higher oestrogen concentrations). Changes in the antioxidant status in the rats kept on the alternating diet, may underpin the failure of fertilised egg implantation in the uterine tissue and pregnancy completion.

Investigation of the In Vitro Antioxidant Potential Of Polyphenolic-Rich Extract of Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam Stem Bark and Its Antidiabetic Activity In Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetic Rats

Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam (Moraceae) stem bark has been used locally in managing diabetes mellitus with sparse scientific information. This study investigates the in vitro antioxidant potential of polyphenolic-rich extract of A heterophyllus stem bark as well as its antidiabetic activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Fifty male Wistar rats were used with the induction of diabetes by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight) and were orally administered 400 mg/kg free and bound phenols of A heterophyllus stem bark. The animals were sacrificed on the 28th day of the experiment using the cervical dislocation method; antihyperglycemia and anti-inflammatory parameters were subsequently assessed. The polyphenolic extracts demonstrated antioxidant potentials (such as hydrogen peroxide and diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl), as well as strong inhibitory activity against amylase and glucosidase. There was a significant (P < .05) increase in glycogen, insulin concentration, pancreatic β-cell scores (HOMA-β), antioxidant enzymes and hexokinase activities, as well as glucose transporter concentration in diabetic animals administered the extracts and metformin. Also, a significant (P < .05) reduction in fasting blood glucose, lipid peroxidation, glucose-6-phosphatase, and all anti-inflammatory parameters were observed in diabetic rats administered the extracts and metformin. The extracts demonstrated antidiabetic potential, which may be useful in the management of diabetes mellitus

The Potential Roles of Artemisinin and Its Derivatives in the Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease that has become a global public health problem. Studies on T2DM prevention and treatment mostly focus on discovering therapeutic drugs. Artemisinin and its derivatives were originally used as antimalarial treatments. In recent years, the roles of artemisinins in T2DM have attracted much attention. Artemisinin treatments not only attenuate insulin resistance and restore islet ß-cell function in T2DM but also have potential therapeutic effects on diabetic complications, including diabetic kidney disease, cognitive impairment, diabetic retinopathy, and diabetic cardiovascular disease. Many in vitro and in vivo experiments have confirmed the therapeutic utility of artemisinin and its derivatives on T2DM, but no article has systematically demonstrated the specific role artemisinin plays in the treatment of T2DM. This review summarizes the potential therapeutic effects and mechanism of artemisinin and its derivatives in T2DM and associated complications, providing a reference for subsequent related research.

Antioxidant status and hepato-protective role of Anchomanes difformis in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in male Wistar rats

Introduction: The liver is involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and their metabolites and it is vulnerable to oxidative damage. Hyperglycaemia is highly implicated in the progression of diabetes mellitus, and adversely affects the liver. Though, conventional hypoglycaemic drugs may be effective in reducing blood glucose, they do not appear to be effective in attenuating the progression of diabetes and its complications.

Objective: This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of Anchomanes difformis on hyperglycaemia and hepatic injuries in type 2 diabetes.

Methods: Type 2 diabetes was induced in male Wistar rats with a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (40 mg/kg BW) after two weeks of fructose (10%) administration. Aqueous extract of A. difformis (200 and 400 mg/kg BW) and glibenclamide (5 mg/kg BW) were administered orally for six weeks. Blood glucose concentrations were measured. Serum levels of liver dysfunction markers (ALT, AST, and ALP), total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL- and LDL-cholesterol were investigated. Total protein, albumin, and globulin were also assessed. Antioxidant parameters: ORAC, GSH, GSSG, SOD, CAT and FRAP were evaluated in the liver while ORAC, FRAP and lipid peroxidation were determined in the serum. Histological examination of the liver tissue was carried out.

Results: Treatment with aqueous extract of A. difformis significantly (p<0.05) reduced blood glucose and reversed steatosis in the diabetic-treated rats. The antioxidant status of diabetic-treated rats was significantly (p<0.05) improved. Serum levels of liver dysfunction markers were significantly (p<0.05) reduced in diabetic-treated rats.

Conclusion: The findings in this study revealed that 400 mg/kgBW Anchomanes difformis was more effective than 200 mg/kg BW in ameliorating diabetes-induced hepatopathy, however, both doses of Anchomanes difformis demonstrated more antidiabetic ability than glibenclamide. Anchomanes difformis may be a novel and potential therapeutic agent in the management of diabetes and resulted hepatic injuries.

The Impact of a Diet Containing Sucrose and Systematically Repeated Starvation on the Oxidative Status of the Uterus and Ovary of Rats

The effect of a sucrose diet and repeated one-day starvation on oxidative status in the ovary and uterus is still unknown. Our analysis focused on carbohydrate-lipid metabolism parameters and the changes in red blood cells, ovary and uterus superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities and malonylodialdehyde (MDA) concentration in rats fed with a diet containing 16% of sucrose and subjected to systematic one-day starvation when using such a diet. It was found that a diet with 16% sucrose contributed to the increase of antioxidant enzyme activity in the blood (GPx and CAT) and uterus (SOD), without changes in MDA concentrations, which indicates an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration in these tissues, being balanced by an increase in antioxidant enzyme activity. The introduction of a regular one-day starvation period into the diet intensified oxidative stress and led to a redox imbalance in the reproductive tissues of female rats. This was manifested by higher GPx activity, lower CAT activity and higher MDA concentration in the uterus and lower GPx and CAT activities and lower MDA concentration in the ovaries. The observed changes may be the cause of fertility disorders and possible problems with fertilised egg cell implantation into the uterine tissue.

Assessment of the Anti-Hyperglycaemic, Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of the Methanol Extract of Moringa Oleifera in Diabetes-Induced Nephrotoxic Male Wistar Rats

Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease of multiple aetiologies in insulin secretion. A deficiency in insulin results in hyperglycemia with metabolic disturbances of biomolecules. Moringa oleifera (MO) is endemic in the tropics with a variety of ethnomedicinal importance. The leaf of this plant has been reported to possess antioxidant and medicinal properties that may be helpful in the treatment and management of diabetes and its associated complications. Diabetes was induced intraperitoneally in rats by a single dose of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg) and treated with methanolic extract of Moringa oleifera (250 mg/kg b.wt) for six weeks. Forty-eight (48) adult male Wistar strain rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal control (NC), Moringa oleifera treated control rats (NC + MO), diabetic rats (DM) and Moringa oleifera treated diabetic rats (DM + MO). Estimation of antioxidant capacity, total polyphenols, flavonoids and flavonols content of Moringa oleifera extract was performed and serum biochemical markers were evaluated. Antioxidants such as catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, glutathione (GSH) and inflammatory biomarkers were determined in the kidney. Results showed high antioxidant capacities of MO extract and improved serum biochemical markers, whilst lipid peroxidation (MDA) levels were reduced in non-diabetic and diabetic rats after MO treatment when compared to normal control. Subsequent administration of MO led to an increased concentration of serum albumin, globulin and total protein with a decrease in the level of MDA, and improvements in CAT, SOD, GSH, GPx, (tumour necrosis factor-alpha)TNF-α and (interleukin-6)IL-6. MO contains potent phytochemical constituents that offer protective action against diabetic-induced renal damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammation and could therefore play a role in reducing diabetic complications, particularly in developing countries such as in Africa where the majority cannot afford orthodox medicine.

Endocrine disruption and oxidative stress implications of artemether-lumefantrine combination therapy in the ovary and uterus of rats

In the current study, we evaluated the endocrine disruption effect and oxidative stress implication of therapeutic dose of artemether-lumefantrine combination therapy on the ovary and uterus of rats. In this respect, female rats were divided into four groups: animals were per orally treated with tween 80 (control), artemether (4 mg kg^-1 body weight), lumefantrine (24 mg kg^-1 body weight) and artemether-lumefantrine (artemether, 4 mg kg^-1 body weight and lumefantrine, 24 mg kg^-1 body weight). We found that therapeutic doses of the drugs did not change the levels of ovarian hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and malondialdehyde (MDA), but increased uterine levels of H₂O₂ and MDA and reduced ovarian and uterine levels of reduced glutathione. In addition, whilst ovarian glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity reduced in the lumefantrine monotherapy group, uterine GPx increased in the artemether monotherapy as well as the artemether-lumefantrine groups. Furthermore, the drugs reduced ovarian and uterine glutathione- S-transferase and uterine superoxide dismutase activities. The drugs reduced oestrogen level, whereas follicle-stimulating hormone was reduced by lumefantrine and artemether-lumefantrine therapies. Additionally, artemether and lumefantrine monotherapies significantly increased prolactin and progesterone levels compared with the control ( p < 0.05). The results suggest that in the absence of malarial parasite infection, the drugs induced oxidative stress in the ovary and uterus and disrupt hormonal balance in the rats.