مریم حکمتی پور

Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) are a group of enzymes found in all living organisms that contribute to detoxification of xenobiotic compounds via Phase II conjugation with glutathione and play an important role in drug resistance. The GST activity in chloroquine-resistant strains of rodent and human Plasmodium is meaningfully higher than sensitive strains. In the present study, the GST activity and level were measured in those mice infected with Plasmodium berghei during the treatment with antimalarial drugs. Mice infections were carried out by P. berghei and inhibition growth of the parasite was performed through three doses of eosin B and prevalent antimalarial drugs similarly artemisinin and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine in 24 h based on Peter's test. Two hours after the last dose, the mice were bled, RBCs were isolated by cellulose column, and P. berghei was released after washing with saponin. The enzyme function was measured using glutathione and CDNB as substrate at 340 nm. In addition, the GST levels were assessed by Biotech kit. The GST specific activities and levels of P. berghei in infected mice treated with eosin B and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine and their combination were decreased while such change was not seen in those ones treated with atemisinin and in combination with eosin B. Owing to the reduction property of the combination of eosin B on the GST which has a fundamental role in the resistance of the parasite to antimalarial drugs, it could be considered as a promising procedure for application in antimalarial combination drugs.