Colorimetric assay was used in the determination of plasma concentrations of aspartate amino transferase (AST), alanine amino transferease (ALT) and alkaline phosphate (ALP) in the administration of amalar, chloroquine, cotecxin and fansidar. In amalar group the aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alanine amino transferase (ALT) significantly decreased against control, (P<0.05) but there was no significant diference in the decrease of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P<0.05) when compared with control. In the chloroquine group there was increase in aspartate amino transferase (AST) and a decrease in alanine amino transferase (ALT) significantly (P>0.05) but the decrease in alkaline phosphatase (ALP) was not significant when compared with control (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the concentrations of aspartate amino transferase (AST) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (P>0.05) in cotecxin group when compared with control but the decrease in alanine amino transferase (ALT) was significant (P<0.05). In fansidar group there was no significant decrease in aspartate amino transferase (AST) (P>0.05) but alanine amino transferase (ALT) showed significant decrease (P<0.05), whereas the alkaline phosphatase decrease (ALP) was not significant (P>0.05) when compared with control. It is observed in this study that chloroquine has damaging effect on the liver by elevating alanine and aspartate amino transferase respectively whereas fansidar lowers the activities of the liver by decreasing alanine amino transferase. It means that chloroquine and fansidar administration endangers liver functions via its enzyme systems dysfunctioning.
Keywords: Antimalarials, Liver Enzymes, Physiologic Tolerance
