Experimental analysis of gossypol and chloroquine interaction in serum and in liver of rat.

Interactive effects of gossypol and chloroquine as determined by activities of serum alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST) and liver lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase (ALK-pase), glucose-6-phosphatase (G-6-pase) and cholesterol level were investigated in rats. Administration of gossypol for eight weeks, at a concentration of 20 mg per kg body wt. per day with or without chloroquine had no effect on the serum enzymes and glucose-6-phosphatase activities. When chloroquine at a concentration of 5 mg per kg body wt. thrice a week was administered alone, there was a marked decrease in total protein content and ALK-pose activities, while a significant increase in LDH activity was observed. Administration of either gossypol or chloroquine decreased the level of cholesterol. A greater decrease was recorded when both were given together. It is suggested that gossypol can be employed as a male contraceptive among malaria-infected populations.

Biochemical studies of the effect of gossypol consumption on cholesterol and residual glucose in fed and protein-energy deficient rats.

Some biochemical parameters were investigated on gossypol consumption, and were correlated to the level of cholesterol and residual glucose in rat liver. Two groups of animals were used, one group was fed with normal protein diet and the other set was fed with low protein diet. The results show that gossypol produced no apparent biochemical aberration in the liver of normal protein fed and low protein fed rats. It also had no effect on glucose-6-phosphatase and prostate phosphatase. Gossypol consumption had a significant effect on alcohol dehydrogenase. These results indicate no direct involvement of gossypol in sugar uptake but profound influence on the regulation of cholesterol level in the liver.