Hematological and Cardiac Marker Values of Adult Male Wistar Rats Administered a Combination of Common Antimalarial Drugs and Ciprofloxacin

This work investigated the possible effects of the administration of artemether-lumefantrine Ciprofloxacin, and their combinations on haematological parameters and cardiac biomarkers of adult male Wistar rats. A total of 20 rats were used for this study, the rats were divided into four groups of five rats each. Animals in group 1 served as control (distilled water), and Group 2 rats received 20/120g/kg body weight of artemether-lumefantrine. Group 3 rats received 125mg/kg body weight of ciprofloxacin. Group 4 took a combination of 20/120g/kg body weight of artemether-lumefantrine and 125mg/kg body weight of ciprofloxacin. The drugs were administered orally for 14 days. At the end of the experimental period, the rats were sacrificed and blood samples and heart tissues were collected for biochemical analysis. The results of this study showed that there was no significant (p<0.05) alteration in relative heart weight in all the test groups when compared to the control (group 1). However, the serum level of troponin, myoglobin and creatinine-kinase MB were significantly (p<0.05) elevated in group 4 animals treated with a combination of artemether-lumefantrine plus ciprofloxacin (group 4 when compared to control (group 1). The haematological results also showed that there was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in the plasma level of PCV, HB, RBC and WBC in group 4 animals when compared to control (group 1). The histological heart examination showed no pathological changes. However, changes in haematological indices and serum activities of diagnostic proteins of cardiac origin should be taken into account.