Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of artesunate based combination therapy with homeopathic medicine china on liver and kidney of Plasmodium berghei infected mice

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Parasitic Diseases Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Present study has been undertaken to evaluate antimalarial potential and safety of artesunate based combination therapy with homeopathic medicine china (ϕ/30 potency) against Plasmodium berghei (NK-65), a lethal rodent malaria parasite. In combination therapy, the oral administration of artesunate (100 mg/kg) + china ϕ/30 proved to be highly efficacious as it completely cleared the blood stage infection. During the follow up period up to day 28, no recrudescence was observed and the survival rate was 100 %. Combination did not disturb the normal functioning of liver and kidney, as evident from the normal activity of ALP (190.5 ± 0.2 and 174.2 ± 9.12 IU/l), level of bilirubin (0.6 ± 0.33 and 0.73 ± 0.1 mg/dl), urea (28 ± 0.51 and 29.1 ± 0.03 mg/dl) and creatinine (0.9 ± 0.62 and 1.1 ± 0.1 mg/dl) in serum of treated mice on day 7 and 28 respectively. Present study points to better efficacy of china as an alternative drug partner in combination to enhance antimalarial efficacy of artesunate without affecting the liver and kidney functions of P. berghei infected BALB/c mice.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Aikawa M, Suzuki M, Guttierrez Y (1980) Pathology of malaria. In: Krier JP (ed) Malaria, vol 2. Academic Press, New York, pp 47–102

    Google Scholar 

  • Arnstein PRN (2003) The placebo effect. Semin Integr Med 1(3):125–135

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bagai U, Rajan A, Chandel S (2008) Efficacy of Eucalyptus (a homeopathic medicine) in combination with artesunate to clear Plasmodium berghei infection in Balb/C mice. In: Veena Tandon, Arun K Yadav, Bishnupada Roy (eds) Current trends in parasitology, Proceedings, 20th National Congress of Parasitology, November 3–5, 2008 NEHU Shillong India, 2008 pp 203–211

  • Baheti R, Laddha P, Gehlot RS (2003) Liver involvement in falciparum Malaria: a histopathological analysis. JIACM 4(1):34–38

    Google Scholar 

  • Bangchang KN, Congpuong B (2007) Current malaria status and distribution of drug resistance in East and Southeast Asia with special focus to Thailand. Tohoku J Exp Med 211:99–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bonginkosi G, Peter F, Bernhard R (2003) Oral artesunate prevents Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in mice. Parasitol Int 52:53–59

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Das SN, Mohapatra B, Mohanty R, Dash PC, Kar K, Dash P (2007) Malarial hepatitis as a component of multiorgan failure: a bad prognostic sign. J Indian Med Assoc 105(5):247–250

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Garba IH, Gatsing D, Ubon G (2006) Elevated total and isoenzyme forms of acid phosphatase in falciparum malaria. Comtes Rendus Biologies 329:75–78

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Georgewill UO, Ebong OO (2012) A comparative study on the efficacy of some artemisinin combination therapies on Plasmodium berghei in swiss albino mice. Pharmacol Pharma 3:109–112

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hahnemann S (1960) In: Organon of medicine. First Indian edn, M. Bhattacharyya and Co., Calcutta, pp 1–314

  • Ibrahim HG, Ubon G (2005) Serum alkaline phosphatase activity as a potential biomarker for the integrity of the hepatic drainage system in acute falciparum malaria infection. Internet J Infect Dis ISSN:1528–8366

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent JT (1989) Repertory of the homeopathic Materia Medica. B. Jain publishers (P) Ltd, New-Delhi, ISBN 81-7021-083-6 pp 1–253

  • Khuda-Bukhsh AR (2009) Mice as a model for homeopathy research. Homeopathy 98:267–279

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lessell C (1993) Handbook of the homeopathic traveler’s manual. Winter Press, Bromley, pp 21–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Müller O, Sié A, Meissner P, Schirmer RH, Kouyaté B (2009) Artemisinin resistance on the Thai-Cambodian border. Lancet 374(9686):266–277

    Google Scholar 

  • Noppadon T, Thanachartwet V, Krudsood S, Luplertlop N, Pornpininworakij N, Chalermrut K, Phokham S, Kano S, Looareesuwan S, Wilairatana P (2006) Minor liver profile dysfunction in Plasmodium vivax, P. malariae and P. ovale patients and normalization after treatment. Korean J Parasitol 44(4):295–302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Orerell C, Little F, Smith P (2008) Pharmakokinetics and tolerability of artesunate and amodiaquine alone and in combination in healthy volunteers. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 64:683–690

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rajan A, Bagai U (2011) SEM studies on blood cells of Plasmodium berghei infected Balb/c mice treated with artesunate and homeopathic medicine china. J Parasit Dis 35(2):134–139

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robert A, Benoil-Vical F, Carbarat DO (2001) From classical antimalarial drugs to new compounds based on the mechanism of action of artemisinin. Pure Appl Chem 73(7):1173–1188

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Robin Murphy ND (2004) Homeopathic medical repertory. B Jain publishers (P) Ltd. New-Delhi, ISBN 81-8056-079-1, pp 1–1950

  • Santiyanont R (1985) Parasite identification, counting and staining: Application of genetic engineering techniques in tropical diseases, pathogens with special reference to plasmodia. A laboratory manual of selected techniques. UNDP/World Bank/WHO special program for research and techniques in tropical diseases, Bangkok Thailand, 8.7, pp 413–448

  • Saxena R (2006) Role of homeopathy in infectious diseases (philosophy and therapeutics). B. Jain publishers (P) Ltd, New-Delhi, ISBN 81-8056-701-X, pp 1–181

  • Shah H (1999) Malaria and homeopathy. Mayur Jain. Indian Books and Periodicals Publishers, ISBN 81-7467-057-2, pp 1–233

  • Sitprija V (1988) Nephropathy in falciparum malaria. Kidney Int 33:867–877

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2002) WHO traditional medicine strategy 2002–2005. Geneva, Switzerland, Report No. WHO/EDM/TRM/2002.1

  • WHO (2004) First meeting of regional technical advisory group on malaria, Manesar, Haryana, 15–17 December 2004, World Health Organisation, Regional Office for South East Asia, New Delhi, SEA MAL 239, pp 1–38

  • WHO (2005) Malaria risk and malaria control in Asian countries affected by the tsunami disaster. Roll Back Malaria Department, Report No. WHO/HQ

  • WHO (2006) Guidelines for the treatment of malaria. Roll Back Malaria, World Health Organisation and United Nations Children Funds (UNICEF) 2005 Report No. WHO/HTM/MAL/2005.11.02

  • Yarnell E, Abascal K (2004) Botanical treatment and prevention of malaria. Part 2-Selected Botanical Alt Compl Therapies, pp 277–284

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to UGC-CAS programme of the Department of Zoology, Panjab University, Chandigarh for financial support. Ms Aswathy Rajan is thankful to University Grants Commission, New Delhi, India for award of Rajiv Gandhi National Fellowship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Parasitology Laboratory, Panjab University, Chandigarh, 160014, India

    A. Rajan, U. Bagai & S. Chandel

Authors
  1. A. Rajan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. U. Bagai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Chandel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to U. Bagai.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Rajan, A., Bagai, U. & Chandel, S. Effect of artesunate based combination therapy with homeopathic medicine china on liver and kidney of Plasmodium berghei infected mice. J Parasit Dis 37, 62–67 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-012-0132-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12639-012-0132-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation