Abstract: 　Objective] To study the effect of artemether (Art) on phosphoglucomutase(GPM), aldolase(ALD), phosphoglycerate mutase(PGM) and enolase(ENO) of Schistosoma japonicum harbored in mice. [Methods] Mice infected with S.japonicum cercariae for 4～5 wk were treated ig with Art 100 mg/kg or 300 mg/kg and killed 24 h or 48 h after treatment for collection of worms. The activities of GPM, ALD, PGM and ENO in female and male worms were measured by the formation of NADPH or consumption of NADH. [Results] After the worms were exposed in vivo to Art 100 mg/kg for 24 h, the GPM, ALD, PGM and ENO activities in female worms were significantly decreased by 15%, 19%, 50% and 46%, respectively, while in male worms only the PGM and ENO activities were markedly decreased by 22% and 32%, repectively. Following exposure of the worms to Art 100 mg/kg for 48 h, the GPM and ALD activities in male worms were also significantly reduced by 21% and 18%, respectively, while the activities of GPM, ALD, PGM and ENO in female worms and those of PGM and ENO in male worms declined progressively with time. After the worms were exposed in vivo to Art 300 mg/kg for 24～48 h, all the activities of the above-mentioned enzymes in female and male worms declined significantly in a time-related pattern. [Conclusion] Art showed an apparently inhibitory effect on GPM, ALD, PGM and ENO in female schistosomes.

Key words: Schistosoma japonicum, phosphoglucomutase, aldolase, phosphoglycerate mutase, enolase, artemether