Study on the developmental toxicity of combined artesunate and mefloquine antimalarial drugs on rats

[Display omitted] ► Pregnant rats were treated with artesunate, mefloquine and their association. ► Artesunate induced embryolethality and bones malformations. ► Mefloquine induced maternal toxicity with no fetus anomalies. ► The artesunate/mefloquine combination resulted in a reduced developmental toxicity. Antimalarial drug combinations containing artemisinins (ACTs) have become first choice therapies for Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Data on safety of ACTs in pregnancy are limited and no previous study has been conducted on the developmental toxicity of artesunate–mefloquine combinations on the first trimester of gestation. To evaluate the developmental toxicity of an artesunate/mefloquine combination, pregnant rats were treated orally with artesunate (15 and 40mg/kg bwt/day), mefloquine (30 and 80mg/kg bwt/day) and artesunate/mefloquine (15/30 and 40/80mg/kg bwt/day) on gestation days 9–11. Dams were C-sectioned on day 20, and their uteri and fetuses removed and examined for soft tissue and skeleton abnormalities. Artesunate increased embryolethality and the incidence of limb long bone malformations on the absence of overt maternal toxicity. Mefloquine (80mg/kg bwt/day) was maternally toxic and enhanced fetal variations. Combination of artesunate and mefloquine did not enhance their toxicity compared to the toxicity observed after its separate administration. Embryotoxicity of artesunate was apparently attenuated when it is co-administered with mefloquine.