Antimalarial and Erythrocyte Membrane Stability Properties of Globimetula braunii (Engle Van Tiegh) Growing on Cocoa in Plasmodium berghei-Infected Mice

Evaluation of Andrographis paniculata-supplemented Diet on the reproductive indices of Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

The King of Bitters (Andrographis paniculata) is a plant used to cure a wide range of infectious diseases which includes malaria, fever and others. However, there is a paucity of scientific evidence of its effect on male reproductive indices during malaria treatment.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of supplemented diet on antiplasmodial, hematological and male reproductive indices in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Aqueous extract of A. paniculata (King of Bitters, KGB) was prepared and the total phenol and flavonoid contents were determined. Forty-two mice, weighing 20-25 g, were distributed into 7 groups consisting of 6 mice each. The mice were innoculated with strain NK65 Plasmodium berghei (Chloroquine, CQ sensitive) and the parasitemia suppression was assessed. The mice were fed with the dietary supplementation of KGB at varying inclusions (2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) and administered 10 mg/kg CQ (which served as the positive control) for 5 consecutive days after infection was established. The reactive malondialdeahyde (MDA), antioxidant [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH)] and the hematological (hemoglobin, packed cell volume and red blood cell) parameters in the infected mice were determined. The reproductive indices (serum testosterone, luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm viability) and testis histopathology were also assessed.

RESULT

The result revealed that KGB had a total phenol content of 32.55 mgGAE/g and total flavonoid content of 19.71 mgQUE/g. The infected mice treated with the dietary supplementation of KGB showed significantly decreased (p < 0.05) parasitaemia and MDA levels. Furthermore, the 7.5% dietary inclusion showed significant improvement in the antioxidant, hematological and reproductive indices as well as the restoration of testis morphology as seen in the histopathology plate of the infected mice treated with KGB. Hence, this study suggests that the KGB- supplemented diet (7.5%) may be a potential alternative and complementary therapy in the treatment of malaria infection and reproductive disorders.

Protective Effect of Bergapten against Human Erythrocyte Hemolysis and Protein Denaturation In Vitro

Bergapten, a furocoumarin found in many medicinal plants, is used for the management of various conditions. The present in vitro study evaluated the ability of bergapten to prevent human erythrocyte hemolysis and protein denaturation. Bergapten administered at 10, 30, and 100 μg/ml exhibited a significant concentration-dependent protection on the erythrocyte membrane exposed to hypotonicity and heat-induced hemolysis. The concentration at which bergapten inhibited 50% of the cells from hemolysis (IC₅₀) was determined on a dose-response curve, plotted as logarithmic (concentration) against percentage inhibition, keeping the hemolysis produced within the control group at 100%. Bergapten treatment produced an IC₅₀ value of 7.71 ± 0.27 μg/ml and 4.23 ± 0.42 μg/ml for hypotonicity and heat-induced hemolysis, respectively. Diclofenac sodium at similar concentrations produced an IC₅₀ value of 12.22 ± 0.30 μg/ml and 9.44 ± 0.23 μg/ml in the hypotonicity and heat-induced hemolysis, respectively. The ability of bergapten to inhibit protein denaturation was studied as part of an investigation on its mechanism of action. The results showed a significant concentration-dependent reduction in protein denaturation. When administered at 10, 30, and 100 μg/ml, bergapten produced a concentration-dependent reduction in albumin denaturation. Bergapten inhibited protein denaturation with IC₅₀ values of 5.34 ± 0.30 μg/ml and 12.18 ± 0.20 μg/ml in the heat-treated egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation experiments, respectively. Diclofenac sodium (10, 30, and 100 μg/ml) exhibited a similar protection against heat-treated egg albumin and bovine serum albumin denaturation experiments with IC₅₀ values of 8.93 ± 0.17 μg/ml and 12.72 ± 0.11 μg/ml, respectively. Taken together, data from this study show that the pharmacological properties of bergapten may in part be related to its membrane-stabilizing and antidenaturation properties.