COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ANTIPLASMODIAL EFFICACY BETWEEN TWO AMODIAQUINE-ARTESUNATE BRANDS

ABSTRACT Artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs) are the gold standard for malaria treatment. This study compares the efficacy and physiological effects of two brands of amodiaquine-artesunate (AM-AT) combination therapy in a murine model of malaria. This study aims to evaluate and compare the antiplasmodial efficacy, hepatoprotective effects, haematological impact, and antioxidant properties of two AM-AT brands in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Male albino mice were infected with P. berghei and treated with two different brands of AM-AT for four days. Parasitemia, liver function tests, full blood count, lipid peroxidation, and nitric oxide levels were assessed. Treated groups were compared with positive (uninfected) and negative (infected, untreated) controls at significance p < 0.05. Both AM-AT brands significantly (p < 0.05) reduced parasitemia over a four-day treatment period compared to untreated controls. Liver function: Serum AST was significantly reduced by AM-AT (p=0.0126) and AM-AT2 (p=0.00948). AM-AT2 significantly suppressed serum ALT (p=0.0348). Both brands ameliorated increased ALP levels (AM-AT: p=0.00749, AM-AT2: p=0.0049). Hematology: Both brands stabilized WBC levels (AM-AT: p=0.0229, AM-AT2: p=0.0136) and increased RBC levels (AM-AT: p=0.0282, AM-AT2: p=0.0573) compared to untreated infected mice but did not significantly affect hemoglobin. Oxidative stress: Both AM-AT brands effectively suppressed malondialdehyde (MDA) production (p