Changes in Oxidative Indices in Plasmodium Berghei Infected Mice Treated with Aqueous Extract of Aframomum Sceptrum

Malaria is associated with increased production of free radicals whose activities be reduced by antioxidants. This present study investigated the antioxidant ability of the aqueous extract of Aframomum sceptrum. Adult albino male mice, eight weeks old, weighing 15g-25g and divided into 6 groups of 6 mice per group were used for the experiment. Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1ml parasitized blood suspension and parasitemia assessed by thin blood films stained with Geimsa stain. Aqueous extract of Aframomum sceptrum was orally administered at different doses (250mg/kg.wt and 350mg/kg b.wt daily) to both normal and malaria infected mice for a period of 4days. Blood reduced glutathione, hematocrit, liver reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and lipid peroxidation levels were estimated. Significant (p<0.05) reduction in blood reduced glutathione, hematocrit and decrease activities of liver SOD, CAT, GPx and GSH was observed in parasitized control when compared with normal control mice. However oral administration of Aframomum sceptrum significantly (p<0.05) increased hematocrit and blood reduced glutathione content of parasitized mice. Enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants (SOD, CAT, GSH and GPx) activities were also enhanced in a dose dependent manner of spice administration. Reduction in lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde) level was also observed in the liver of parasitized mice receiving the spice treatment. These results suggest that aqueous extract of Aframomum sceptrum may contribute to the protection of malaria infected mice against oxidative damage by improving antioxidant status in a dose dependent manner.