Effect of experimental quinine administration on plasma levels of hemoglobin and methemoglobin in guinea pig

Abstract

In vivo studies were carried out to ascertain the effect of increasing dose of quinine on plasma levels of hemoglobin and methemoglobin in guinea pigs. Increasing dose of quinine in the order of 0.02 g/kg, 0.03 g/kg, 0.04 g/kg, 0.05 g/kg 0.06 g/kg, 0.07 g/kg, 0.08 g/kg, 0.10 g/kg and 0.12 g/kg were introduced into the peritoneal cavity of the designated nine sets of test animals. The doses were administered for 48 hours at a regular interval of 6 hours. Six hours after the last dose administration, blood samples were withdrawn for the determination of plasma levels of hemoglobin and methemoglobin. Plasma hemoglobin concentration increased from 11.55 +0.32 g/100ml to a critical value of 14.30 g/100ml from the control to 0.08 g/kg dose administration. A further increase in the dose of quinine beyond 0.08 g/kg engendered a rapid decrease of plasma hemoglobin concentrations. Plasma methemoglobin levels exhibited a biphasic characteristic with peak value of 2.52 + 0.20% at 0.07 g/kg dose administration followed by decrease when doses of quinine were further increased. It appeared that at a relatively low dose quinine was moderately haematinic while exhibiting low propensity to elicit increased plasma levels of methemoglobin.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(2) 2005: 150-152