Abstract

Recurrence of malaria infection in Nigeria encourages frequent use of artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs). The ACTs function via generation of free radicals. Reactive oxygen species have been implicated in the etiology of male infertility. The present study evaluated prolonged administration of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) and the ameliorative effect of vitamin E (VE) on testicular biomarkers of oxidative stress. Adult male Wistar rats (n = 35) were divided into five groups of seven rats each and treated twice daily for a period of 2 weeks via oral route as follows; group I: 1ml/kg distilled water; group II: 1ml/kg olive oil; group III: 2.29 mg/13.74 mg/kg AL; group IV: 2.29 mg/13.74 mg/kg AL + 100 mg/kg of VE; group V: 2.29 mg/13.74 mg/kg AL + two weeks recovery (allowed to recover from AL treatment for 2 weeks before sampling). At the end of the experiment, animals were sacrificed and testes harvested for analysis of testicular biomarkers of oxidative stress. Testicular concentrations of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT) were significantly (P < 0.05) higher in groups IV and V rats when compared with other groups. Testicular malondialdehyde (MDA) level was increased, while superoxide dismutase (SOD) was decreased in group III as compared to other groups, though these changes were not significant. It is concluded that, prolonged administration of artemether-lumefantrine induces significant alterations in testicular antioxidant enzymes activity suggestive of oxidative stress and that vitamin E and cessation of treatment with artemether-lumefantrine appreciably ameliorates the alterations in testicular antioxidant enzymes activity.