Effect of Plasmodium berghei infection and chloroquine on the hepatic drug metabolizing system of mice.

The hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidase (MFO) system was markedly impaired during Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Cytochrome P-450 and other mono-oxygenases, viz. aniline hydroxylase, aminopyrine-N-demethylase and benzo(a)pyrene hydroxylase, were significantly decreased while microsomal heme showed a four-fold increase at peak parasitemia (greater than 50%). Oral treatment with chloroquine (16 mg kg-1 body wt for 4 days) of P. berghei-infected mice cleared the parasitemia within 72 h and almost normalized the altered levels of MFO indices, a week after cessation of treatment. The findings were further supported by the isoenzymic profile and drug-binding properties of terminal mono-oxygenase, cytochrome P-450.