Background: Piperaquin (PQ) is an anti-malaria drug, which belong to bisquinoline class. Vietnam has successfully produced PQ (both base and phosphate) since 2004. Objective: To evaluate acute oral toxicities of Piperaquine phosphate and the fixed combination anti-malarial drug Dihydroartemisinin plus Piperaquine in mice. Subject and Method: This study was conducted at National Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology between June and October, 2005. The acute oral toxicities of piperaquine phosphate (PQP) and the fixed combination anti-malaria drug (40 mg dihydroiutemisinin plus 320 mg piperaquine phosphate (DHA-PQP), with the materials produced by Institute of chemistry) in mice were investigated. Result: PQP had a medium toxicity. Inhibition of mice's central nervous systems was the main toxicity exhibition. At the high doses of PQP, mice's convulsion was observed before their deaths. The infralethal dose (LDo), absolute lethal dose (LD100) and mean lethal dose (LD50) of PQP were 900, 2300 and 1643.98 (1537.6 \u2013 1758.92) mg/kg, respectively. The fixed combination DHA-PQP had a less toxicity than PQP powder, with LDo, LD100 and LD50 were 1400, 2800 and 2050.06 (1943.63 \u2013 2157.14) mg per kg of body weight, respectively. Conclusion: At the high doses of DHA-PQP, this combination also inhibited mice's central nervous systems. Mice convulsed strongly before their deaths. All died mice were operated for observing visually their organs such as hearts, livers, kidneys, lungs, vesicles and intestines. No abnormal signals were found.
Piperaquine phosphate ; toxicity ; Dihydroartemisinin