Effects of Vitamin C Treatment on Serum Protein, Albumin, Beta-Globulin Profiles and Body Weight of Trypanosoma Brucei-Infected Rattus Noregicus

Abstract

The effect of vitamin C supplements on serum protein profile and body weight of Trypanosoma brucei-infected rats was investigated. The rats were inoculated with trypanosomes intraperitoneally and samples were collected on fourth, eight, twelfth and sixteenth days of post infection (pi). Sixty (60) parasite free-albino rats were used, which were divided into four groups. Group A (control) was left uninfected with trypanosomes, group B and C were infected with Trypanosomes and treated with 40mls and 60mls of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), respectively. Trypanosoma brucei infection caused significant (p<0.01) decreases in serum total proteins, albumin, beta globulin and body weight levels in untreated rats. Consumption of Vitamin C, however, prevented these diseaseinduced anomalies in the treated infected rats. Analyses of the sera using Bradford method and cellulose acetate electrophoresis showed that Vitamin C infected the state of serum protein, albumin and gamma globulin in the trypanosome-infected treated rats. It was concluded that consumption of the Vitamin C ameliorated the pathological changes in serum protein and body weight of T. brucei – infected rats.

Keywords: Trypanosoma brucei, Rattus norvegicus, Ascorbic acid, Body weight, Serum protein