The in vitro effect of artesunate in the combination with primaquine or chloroquine on the hemolysis and oxygen uptake of human erythrocytes was studied: 1. After exposure of human erythrocytes to artesunate at the concentrations from 1 to 10mM, the dose-dependent increase of hemolysis was observed. 2. At artesunate concentrations between 1 and 10mM, the increase of oxygen uptake in erythrocytes was seen. Primaquine, an oxidant drug, showed a synergistic effect with artesunate on hemolysis and oxygen uptake, while chloroquine was found to be antagonistic with artesunate on oxygen uptake. These findings indicate that artesunate exhibits oxidative effects.
Artesunate ; primaquinel ; drug therapy ; Pharmaceutical Preparations ; erythrocytes