Abstract

It has been demonstrated that artesunate causes hepatoxicity by inducing opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT) pore; a condition that is exacerbated by ferrous sulphate. Experimental rats in group I, II and III received distilled water (untreated group), 2.5 mg/kg bw ARTL and 15.0 mg/kg bw ARTH respectively while group IV and V received 2.5 mg/kg bw ARTL + 200 mg/kg bwvit C and 15.0 mg/kg bw ARTH + 200 mg/kg bw vit C, respectively. All treatments were for five (5) days. Results of the study showed that ARTL and ARTH induced opening of MPT pore opening by 1.32 and 2.76 fold (p<0.01), respectively. However, Vit C inhibited the MPT pore opening causing 1.47 and 0.75 fold (p<0.05) induction in group IV and V, respectively. Vitamin C could ameliorated hepatotoxicity associated with the use of artesunate.