Effect of artemether on the mechanical activities of isolated smooth muscles of non-pregnant uterus and ileum in mice and wistar rats

This study investigated the effect of artemether on smooth muscle contractility to drugs in non-pregnant female wistar rats. The effect of artemether (2.1x10^-6 to 2.1x10^-2) on isolated uterine and ileum muscle strips was studied using sixteen (16) mature female Wister rats (160 -190g) mounted on organ baths. The study further investigated the effect of artemether on sub-acute histopathological examination of the ileum using standard in vivo procedures in mice models. Data obtained from the study were represented on table, graph and photomicrographs. The results of this study revealed that artemether (2.1x10^-6 to 2.1x10^-2 )  alone did not produce contractile responses, but caused significant  inhibition on contractile responses induced by acetylcholine ( 4x10^-5 to 4x10- ¹M) on isolated ileal smooth muscle tissue in rats in a dose dependent manner  (p<0.05); also artemether significantly inhibited the contractions induced by oxytocin 8x10-10 to 1x10-6  I.U.) and barium chloride ( 8x10^-6 to 8x10^-2 mg/ml ) on uterine smooth muscle strips in rats in a dose dependent manner; with Emax of 13.5 ± 0.2 and 12.6 ±. 0.4 mm respectively, all the observed results were independent of tissue species variation. (p<0.05- 0.01). This study revealed that artemether exhibited no adverse effect on the non-pregnant uterus   and the rat ileum, hence its safety in the treatment of malaria, as recommended by the World Health Organization.