Potential Role of Red Palm Oil Supplemented Diet on Oxidative Stress Enzymes in Plasmodium berghei Induced Malaria

BackgroundMalaria parasites are very vulnerable to oxidative stress during the part of their life cycle when they inhabit the erythrocytes. Studies have shown that dietary intake of antioxidant plays a role in stabilizing oxidative stress. MethodsThe objective of this research work was to examine the antioxidative effect of red palm oil on Plasmodium berghei malaria induced oxidative stress. Sixty (60) mice were distributed into five groups. Group A served as the negative control (healthy mice with normal feed); group B as positive control (healthy mice fed with red palm oil without malaria parasite.while the other groups (C to E) served as the test groups. Group C served as group of healthy mice fed with red palm oil (pelletized), infected with malaria parasite without antimalaria drug. Group D served as group of healthy mice fed with red palm oil (pelletized), infected with malaria parasite and treated with amodiaquine. Group E served as group of healthy mice fed with normal feed, infected with malaria parasite and treated with amodiaquine. The parasitemia levels were estimated on days 1,4 and 5. The activity of oxidative stress enzymes biomarkers were determined spectrophotometrically. ResultGroup A showed a statistically significant increase in the activity of SOD (1.90 {+/-} 0.16 units/mg protein), GST (1.68 {+/-} 0.086 units/L) compared to group C, SOD (3.54 {+/-} 0.83 units/mg protein), GST (2.12 {+/-} 0.20 units/L). Group B showed a statistical significant decrease in the activities of SOD (3.22 {+/-} 0.33 units/mg protein), Catalase (49.11 {+/-} 2.35 {micro}mol/min), GSH-R (31.50 {+/-} 2.48 units/L) compared to group E, SOD (2.18 {+/-} 0.39 units/mg protein), Catalase (44.07 {+/-} 3.88 {micro}mol/min), GSH-R (27.75 {+/-} 1.64 units/L). ConclusionThe dietary intake of red palm oil helps to reduce free radical mediated injury to the tissue thus preventing oxidative stress induced by malaria or any other factors.