Schistosomiasis is a debilitating parasitic disease, affects large number of host species. Currently affects 250-300 million people in tropic areas. Schistosoma pathogenic impact is hepatic periportal fibrosis; the parasite-induced inflammatory cellular activation promotes oxidative stress, resulting in lipid peroxidation (LPO), with subsequent increase in inflammatory mediators as malondialdehyde (MDA). This study was set up to reveal possible contribution of lipid peroxidation byproducts MDA in hepatic pathophysiology. Results displayed that MDA don't tend to change in relation with either age, nor hepatic transaminases AST & ALT, while exhibited a significant increase in MDA levels in human schistosomiasis versus control group P<0.0001 (Mn. ± St.dev. 7.77 ± 3.59, 1.21 ± 0.28 nmol/ml) respectively. Moreover; MDA plasma levels in Schistosoma infected group correlated significantly with two hepatic fibrosis parameters; (a) ultrasonography graded periportal fibrosis P< 0.0001. Levels of MDA in hepatic fibrosis grades 0, I, II, III in Schistosoma infected group were (Mn. ± St.dev. 2.8 ± 0.64, 4.3 ± 1.2, 9.3 ± 1.6 and 10.8 ± 1.3 nmol/ml) respectively, (b) serum Hyaluronic acid (HA) P<0.0001 (spearman r = 0.77) as a reliable hepatic fibrosis marker. This implies a considerable role of LPO byproducts in schistosomiasis pathogenicity, and proposing malondialdehyde as a biomarker for schistosomiasis morbidity.

In this study, Myrmecodia platytyrae (MyP) water extract was investigated to explain the antioxidant property and its safety. Water extract of MyP was prepared and tested for ORAC for each batch of preparations. The MyP water extract was administered daily onto three groups of experimental animals which were Low Dose (LD), Medium Dose (MD) and High Dose (HD) groups for a period of consecutive 28 days according to the OECD GLP guideline (OECD TG 407). The ORAC results showed that MyP water extract has an antioxidant activity for each batch. The subchronic toxicity test showed that MyP water extract product has no observable sub-chronic toxic effect on Sprague Dawley rats. The body weight of rats increased along with proportional food and water intake. In the same way, all hematological, biochemical parameters as well as histopathological observation do not show any abnormal finding. Gross observations, feed and water consumption, urine strip test and animals’ weight during necropsy did not show any difference compared to the control group. In conclusion, MyP water extract is suggested to have a broad safety margin in experimental animals.