CHANGES IN SERUM GLUCOSE AND LIPID PROFILE AS INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE BIOMARKERS IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTED MICE TREATED WITH AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF NAUCLEA LATIFOLIA

Abstract

Nauclea latifolia has been shown to have hypocholesterolaemic and hypoglycaemic effect, and cholesterol and glucose have been implicated to play significant roles in the pathogenesis of glaucoma. This study investigates the serum glucose and lipid profile of Plasmodium berghei infected mice treated with aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia. Adult albino male mice, 8 weeks old, weighing 12g-25g and divided into 6 groups of 5 mice per group were used for the experiment. Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1ml parasitized blood suspension and parasitaemia assessed by thin blood films stained with Geimsa stain. Aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia was orally administered at different doses (200mg/kg. body weight and 300mg/kg body weight daily) to both normal and P. berghei infected mice for a period of 4 days. Serum glucose, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels were estimated. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in serum glucose and cholesterol was revealed in the untreated parasitized control when compared with other groups but no significant change (p<0.05) in serum triglyceride and high density lipoprotein were observed in parasitized control when compared with normal control mice. However, oral administration of Nauclea latifolia significantly (p<0.05) maintained the cholesterol and glucose levels in the infected mice toward the normal value when compared with the untreated parasitized mice with no significant change in the triglyceride and high density lipoprotein levels. These results suggest that aqueous extract of Nauclea latifolia may not cause or lead to the increase in the intraocular pressure (glaucoma) both in normal and malaria infected mice.