Studies on biochemical changes with special reference to oxidant and antioxidants in malaria patients

Abstract

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.

Evaluation of oxidative stress and antioxidant status of pregnant women suffering from malaria in Cameroon

“…The presence of IRBCs frequently induces the infiltration of inflammatory-type cells into the placenta, where they cause pathological alterations (26). It has been also shown that P. falciparum trophozoite infected human red cells produce H 2 O 2 and OH ¯ radical about twice as much as normal erythrocytes (17,27). Excess H 2 O 2 could also result in breakdown of heme and release of free iron ions, which in turn form OH¯ through Fenton reaction (28).…”

“…In Africa, 5-10% of pregnant women may develop severe anaemia (defined as haemoglobin < 70g/l or < 80g/l) (14,15). One of the major reasons for development of malarial anemia seems to be oxidative stress (16,17).…”

“…In addition to host's immune system, malarial parasite also stimulates certain cells in production of ROS thereby resulting in haemoglobin degradation (16,17). Important to note in this context is the fact that ROS are toxic molecules that the body antioxidant regulation system can neutralize at the cellular level through enzymes (Figure 1) or scavengers such as vitamins A, C and E (19).…”

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.…”

Augmentation of antioxidant system: Contribution to antimalarial activity of Clerodendrum violaceum leaf extract

“…Furthermore, vitamin E is transported by selenoproteins (Alfin-Slater and Morris, 1963). Thus, these antioxidant species in the extracts may play an important role in scavenging the ROS produced during Plasmodium species infection either independently or synergistically through mechanisms which may include interference with lipid peroxidation, which has been shown to occur in malaria (Kulkarni et al, 2003) and termination of free radical chain reactions (Sardesai, 1995). Furthermore, the higher activities obtained for the methanolic extract may result from the higher concentrations of these antioxidant species in this extract compared to other extracts.…”