Objective: To study the effect of artemether on several enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism of Schistosoma japonicum.
Methods: Mice infected with Schistosoma japonicum cercariae for 4-5 weeks were administered intragastrically with artemether 300 mg/kg and killed 24-72 h after medication. The supernatant fluids of female and male worm homogenates were prepared for determining 9 essential enzymes of carbohydrate metabolism by using horizontal starchgel electrophoresis.
Results: The activities of 8 out of 9 enzymes (i.e. hexokinase, aldolase, glucosephophate isomerase, malate dehydrogenase, malic enzyme, glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase, 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase and mannose-6-phosphate isomerase) in female worms from artemether-treated mice were obviously inhibited 24-72 h after treatment. In male worms, only aldolase, mannose-6-phosphate isomerase and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase were slightly inhibited.
Conclusion: Artemether displayed apparent effects on the carbohydrate metabolism of female schistosomes.