Abstract
Malaria infection is associated with increased generation of free radicals. This study investigated the antioxidant activity of ethanolic leaf extracts of Spilanthes uliginosa, Ocimum basilicum, Hyptis spicigera and Cymbopogon citratus. Seventy two (72) swiss mice of both sexes were used. All the mice were treated intraperitoneally with 0.2 ml parasitized blood suspension and parasitemia assessed by thin blood films stained with Geimsa stain after seventy two hours. The mice were divided into six groups namely; A, B, C, D, E, and F of twelve mice each. Groups B, C, D and E were subdivided into three (3): B1, B2, B3, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2 and E3, four in each subgroup. The subgroups were treated with the extracts of Spilanthes uliginosa (Sw), Ocimum basilicum, Hyptis spiligera and Cymbopogon citratus each for five (5) consecutive days with 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg body weight respectively via oral intubation. Two control groups, A and F were used. The negative control (A) was treated daily with 5 ml/kg normal saline while positive control group (F) was treated with 5 mg/kg body weight of chloroquine. The results indicated a general significant (P < 0.05) decrease in the lipid peroxidation concentrations of the parasitized treated mice when compared to parasitized untreated mice on the last day. A general significant dose dependent increase (P < 0.05) was observed in superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and glutathione perioxidase activities as well as reduced glutathione concentrations in the treated mice except at a dosage of 200 mg/kg body weight for all the plants. The effects of the extracts were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than that of chloroquine. These results suggest that the ethanolic extracts of these plants may contribute to the protection of malaria infected mice against oxidative damage by improving antioxidant status in a dose dependent manner.
Highlights
The use of plants for treating diseases is as old as the human species
The results revealed an increase in lipid perioxidation levels and decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione perioxidase (GPx) and the concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) in parasitized untreated mice when compared to treated mice, which suggest an oxidative environment and stress in parasitized mice
This might have occurred as a result of toxic effect of upsurge reactive oxygen speies produced by immune system as well as synchronized release of O2− during haemoglbin degradation by malaria parasite [12]
Summary
The use of plants for treating diseases is as old as the human species. All over the globe the use of medicinal plants has significantly supported primary health care [1]. (commonly known as scent leave) is native to Africa, Asia and Pacific Island and is of the family Lamiaceae. The plants in this family are mostly annual or perennial herbs. Malaria infection in human and animals is caused by the parasite Plasmodium [5]. A prime event in malaria infection is increased production of highly reactive oxygen species (ROS) by host cell system, malaria parasite itself and its activities [6]. This research was designed to assess the ability of the plant extracts lower the oxidative stress caused by malaria infection
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