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.

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 7 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, nonsignificantly. 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. Coadministration of LC with ART or following treatment with ART may have protective effects on erythrocytes.