Oxidative Stress in Children with Severe Malaria

Abstract

Fifty cases of severe malaria were studied for their oxidant and antioxidant status. Severe anemia (54%) was the most common presentation followed by hyperpyrexia, cerebral malaria and jaundice. Plasma malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, nitrite, ascorbic acid and copper levels were significantly raised in cases as compared with controls (p < 0.001). Plasma ceruloplasmin, glutathione and superoxide dismutase levels were significantly decreased in children with severe malaria (p < 0.001). Plasma zinc was increased in cases but difference is not statistically significant. Significantly decreased level of nitrites and increased value of glutathione was found in patients with hemoglobinuria and jaundice, respectively. The significantly elevated malondialdehyde and protein carbonyl levels reflect the increased oxidative stress, whereas decreased levels of glutathione and superoxide dismutase point toward utilization of the antioxidants in severe malaria. Thus, changes in oxidants and antioxidants observed suggest the production of reactive oxygen species and their possible role in pathogenesis of severe malaria.

Effect of Plasmodium falciparum malaria parasites on haematological parameters in Ghanaian children

“…When a disease pathology occur in circulation, it is natural to speculate that it will have an impact on systemic biological signals of the human host. During the course of malaria infection, parasites and red blood cells come under oxidative stress and the host system responds in an attempt to protect the red blood cells (RBCs) (Narsaria et al 2012). Indeed, it is becoming increasingly clear that many disease pathologies modulate mitochondrial energetics in leucocytes as early warning signs for bioenergetics dysfunction (Guha et al 2006;Dey et al 2009).…”

Antioxidant Activity of Some Nigerian Medicinal Plants Used in Malaria Treatment

“…The implications of free radicals through oxidative stress in the physiopathogenesis of malaria has been documented. 16,32,33 Malaria parasites release free radicals causing oxidative stress during the part of their life cycle when they inhabit erythrocytes. As the infection progresses, they also activate macrophages, one consequence of which is extracellular release of reactive oxygen species (ROS), with the propensity of inducing oxidative damage and cell destruction.…”

“…Following reports that free radicals are involved in malaria disease 16 and the knowledge that plants contain antioxidants which are known to scavenge free radicals; there is need to explore plant materials that are used in the treatment of malaria for their free radical scavenging and or antioxidant activity. The present study was therefore designed to evaluate the free radical scavenging activity of methanol extract of the leaves of Alafia barteri, Ocimum basilicum and Heliotropium indicum using various in-vitro analytical methods.…”

Evaluación del efecto genotóxico en pacientes con malaria de una región de Colombia

“…Es característico en la parasitemia por Plasmodium la actividad muy dinámica de las enzimas oxidantes y antioxidantes [18][19][20] . En esta infección se disminuyen las enzimas con función anti-oxidante (catalasas, superóxido dismutasas, glutation peroxidasas) pudiendo generar especies reactivas del oxígeno y que los fármacos antimaláricos (cloroquina y primaquina) aumentan la producción de ERO en linfocitos y macrófagos para la destrucción del microorganismo 1 .…”