Malaria management in animal model using antioxidant vitamins

Abstract

Management of malaria has become a major public health problem with the emergence of Plasmodium falciparum resistant malaria to most antimalaria drugs. The work was employed to evaluate the management of malaria infection with the use of antioxidant vitamins in animal model. Gnotobiotically reared male Swiss albino mice, aged six to eight weeks, and weighed between 18 and 22 g were inoculated with a standard dose of malaria parasites P. berghei, through intra-peritoneal route. Malaria infected mice were treated over three days with 300 mg base Vitamin A, and 500 mg base vitamin C and E respectively, per kilogram body weight. There was a highly significant decrease (p<0.0001) in parasitaemia in treated
groups. In positive untreated control group, hundred percent mortality was recorded. Post mortem examinations revealed haemorrhagic lesions at the lower part of the brain. An effective treatment of malaria was noted with orthomolecular management.

Keywords: Plasmodium berghei; animal model; malaria; antioxidant vitamins.