THE TIME AND DOSE DEPENDENT EFFECTS OF HALOFANTRINE HYDROCHLORIDE ON THE BIOCHEMICAL LIVER INDICES OF GUINEA PIG
Batubo Nimisoere P.*
ABSTRACT
Halofantrine hydrochloride is an antimalarial drug, usually prescribed as a standby treatment of malaria in
travellers and pregnant mothers. In this study the time and dose dependent effects of halofantrine hydrochloride on
liver biochemical indices during 24 hours treatment period of malaria. 48 female guinea pigs were used in this
study and were equally divided into 3 groups of 16 each. The treatment group B and C received 2.6mg and 1.3mg
of halofantrine hydrochloride as clinical and subclinical doses respectively at 6 hours interval for 3 doses while
group A the control received distilled water alone. Signs of toxicity were observed throughout the study. No death
was recorded in any of the treatment groups and also the guinea pigs did not show any abnormalities in their
physiological characteristics. The liver biochemical indices such aspartate aminotransferase, alanine
aminotransferase, total protein and albumin were significantly elevated at p<0.05 however there was a significant
reduction alkaline phosphatase enzyme at p<0.05. It was also observed that the effects of halofantrine on the liver
enzymes follow a biphasic activity. Based on this result, it can be concluded that halofantrine hydrochloride has a
biphasic activity on liver enzymes and hepatotoxic in clinical and subclinical doses during treatment period. It is
therefore contraindicated in patient with livers diseases or those at risk of liver disease.
Keywords: Halofantrine hydrochloride, biochemical indices, guinea pig, short-term treatment period.
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