Exploration of the effects an artemisinine suspension by subcutaneous injection in white mice infected with Plasmodium berghei

ABSTRACT

Artemisinine was prepared into a suspension suitable for subcutaneous administration in Plasmodium berghei- infected mice. This formulation (20mg/kg b.i.d, total dosage of 200mg/kg) was compared to oral artemisinine (at the same dose) in 50 Plasmodium berghei infected mice. The study also included a non treated control group and a placebo suspension group. The drug was applied for 5 days, beginning at 4 hours after infection. All mice treated by subcutaneous application were alive and did not show any toxicity or side effects due artemisinine. There was no recrudescence during 60 days of follow-up. All mice in the control, placebo and oral artemisinin group died with hyperparasitemia. The result showed that subcutaneous formulation of artemisinin is more effective than oral ones at the same dose.