Oxidative stress plays an important role in the development of maladal anemia. The present study was undertaken to study the role of oxidant and antioxidants in the patients of Plasmodium falciparum malada (n = 25), Plasmodium vivax malada (n = 25) as against the normal control subjects (n =25). The parameters included are the hematological [hemoglobin, erythrocyte adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, ADP -induced platelet aggregation] and serum total lipid peroxide as an index of oxidative stress and antioxidants [erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, serum vitamin E] & serum iron.Significant alterations in all above parameters were noted in both groups of malaria patients as compared to control subjects. Maximum significant alterations in hematological parameters were noticed in P. falciparum infection as compared to P. vivax malada (p<0.001). Substantial dse in serum total lipid peroxides and a significant reduction in antioxidants such as serum vitamin E and serum iron were noted in R falciparum malaria as compared to R vivax malada (p< 0.001), whereas maximum decline in erythrocytic SOD activity was observed in R vivax infection as compared to R falciparum malaria (p<0.05). Follow-up examination revealed the restoration of the levels of all biochemical parameters to the normal level after 20 days of antimalarial therapy.The study specified severity of P. falciparum malaria and also functional duality of oxidant.

In the present study, the role of serum lipid peroxide and serum nitric oxide as oxidants and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase & serum vitamin E as antioxidants were determined in the 50 neonates with hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. (HIE) as against 25 healthy neonates as controls 50 patients of HIE were further divided into two groups i. e. mild and moderate HIE patients. All subjects were in the age group of 37-41 weeks of gestation. The levels of serum lipid peroxide, serum nitric oxide and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase were significantly elevated in both groups of neonates with HIE than those of controls (P<0.001), whereas serum vitamin E levels were significantly decreased in both groups of HIE patients than those of controls (P<0.001). A positive correlation was obtained between serum lipid peroxide and erythrocytic superoxide dismutase (r=+0.86). Alterations in the status of oxidants and antioxidants indicate role of free radicals in the development of HIE.