ABSTRACT
The effect of chloroquine, folic and ascorbic acid on malaria parasite induced oxidative stress was the focus of this study. The study relevance derives from the need to understand the specific roles of these individual organic acids used in combination with chloroquine. Study Design: The design involves five groups of control (non-parasitized-nontreated), parasitized nontreated (PnT), parasitized chloroquine and ascorbic acid treated (Pcq+asT), parasitized chloroquine and folic acid treated (Pcq+faT) and parasitized chloroquine, ascorbic and folic acid treated (Pcq+asT+faT). Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry Ambrose Alli University (Faculty of Natural Sciences). This study is part of a research that lasted three years. Materials and Methods: Treatment regime was for three days after parasitemia in mice was established with Gemsa stain. All biochemical and haematological parameters assayed for in this project were conducted using standard procedures. Result: Chloroquine and vitamin treatments significantly (P=.05) reduced erythrocyte fragility (EF), total bilirubin and increased packed cell volume (PCV) when compared with PnT parameters of mice. Treatments significantly (P=.05) increased serum albumin compared with control and had no effect on the serum albumin levels of PnT mice. Treatment with cq+asa and cq+as+fa resulted in significant (P=.05) oxidative stress in mice compared to control but reduced (P=.05) oxidative stress in comparison with PnT mice. Exceptionally, chloroquine and folic acid treatment did not show any significant change in oxidative stress and superoxide dismutase activity in mice when compared with control. Conclusion: The results suggest chloroquine and folic acid treatment to be more effective than ascorbic acid or other combination treatment employed in this study in the management of malaria induced oxidative stress.
ABSTRACT
This research attempts to examine the effects of ascorbic and folic acid intervention on the haematology, antioxidants molecules and enzymes of mice exposed to malaria infection. The study involves three groups of control (non-parasitized-nontreated), parasitized-nontreated (PnT) and parasitized ascorbic and folic acid treated (P+as+faT). Intervention with ascorbic and folic acids commenced for three days after parasitemia had been established in mice. Results from this study showed that ascorbic and folic acid intervention in malaria condition reduced (P<0.05) total protein, erythrocyte fragility (EF), increased (P<0.05) packed cell volume (PCV) in comparison with PnT and control mice groups. Lipid peroxidation product in serum, Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and Catalase (CAT) activity and reduced glutathione (GSH) reduced in parasitized mice administered with ascorbic and folic acid doses, as against those of control, whereas SOD activity in Control and CAT activity in PnT observed to increase and decrease, respectively. The extent of lipid peroxidation in kidney was effectively reduced by ascorbic and folic acid compared to PnT. In liver SOD activity, CAT activity, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity significantly (P<0.05) reduced in P+as+faT as against PnT and control groups. From these observations therefore, we draw the conclusion that ascorbic and folic acids combination in malaria infection may reduce lipid peroxidation and stimulate cellular pathways that enhance the production of high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide.
ABSTRACT
Macrotermes bellicosus (MB), Imbrasia belina larva (IBL), Oryctes rhinoceros larva (OR) andRhynchophorus pheonicis (RP) larva oils were extracted, and the oils were physically and chemically characterized. The lipid content recorded for the insects were 31.46 ± 0.57%, 15.16 ± 0.18%, 14.87 ± 0.33% and 23.30 ± 0.33% (wet weight) for MB, IBL, OR and RP respectively. RP and OR insect oils were golden yellow, odourless and fluid at room temperature (26 ± 2oC), while that extracted from IBL and MB were of a lighter yellow colour. The insect lipids all gave a low solidification temperature and high iodine number indicating a relatively high level of unsaturation of the insect/larval oils. Their saponification values were high suggesting the presence of a fair amount of fatty acids but their acid values were low pointing to the fact that these fatty acids were not free but esterified acids. The cholesterol values were also low but highest in MB with a value of 41.8 ± 0.15 mg/100 g lipid. For all the insects, the neutral lipid fraction was the major fraction in the insect oils. RP had the highest neutral lipid fraction of 88.40 while MB had the least value of 69.87. At the same time MB had the highest phospholipids and glycolipid fractions with values of 19.14 and 10.81 respectively while RP had the least phospholipids and glycolipid fractions with values of 8.20 and 2.60 respectively. For IBL, RP and OR (which are insect larvae) the major fatty acids in the oils were palmitic and oleic acids while for MB (mature insect) the major fatty acids were palmitic and linoleic acids. The insect/larval oils contained more unsaturated fatty acids which explained the high iodine number, low solidification values and the liquid nature of the oils at room temperature. OR recorded the highest level of unsaturation of 65.61 while MB had the least level of unsaturation of 50.02%. Further analysis revealed a refractive index ranging from 1.1 ± 0.01 to 1.3 ± 0.05, specific gravity of 0.84 ± 0.02 to 0.90 ± 0.01, solidification value of 10 - 14°C, total lipid phosphorus ranging from 31.0 ± 0.25 to 47.18 ± 0.03 mmmmg/gm lipid, acid value of 3.12 ± 0.55 to 3.6 ± 0.06, iodine value of 108 ± 0.15 to 140 ± 0.51, saponification value of 187.17 ± 0.55 to 198.9 ± 0.25 and unsaponifiable matter of 8.11 ± 0.02 to 12.04 ± 0.11. These values when compared with that observed in oils which have been considered to be of high quality and of much use in pharmaceutical industries suggest that these insect oils may have pharmaceutical potential