Alteration of redox status by commonly used antimalarial drugs in the north-western region of Nigeria

Abstract

<jats:p> This study was designed to investigate the alteration of redox status by commonly used antimalarials in Nigeria. Drugs used were artemisinin, artesunate, chloroquine, coartem and quinine at the final concentrations of 0.5–8.0 mg/mL. Blood samples were collected from malarial patients and apparently healthy humans for comparison. Reduced glutathione, catalase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities, protein content and lipid peroxidation were determined. All drugs significantly ( p &lt; 0.05) increases the protein level relative to control in normal blood, whereas in the infected, a significant ( p &lt; 0.05) reduction was observed. In normal blood, the antimalarials dose dependently decreased ( p &lt; 0.05) SOD and catalase activities with significant ( p &lt; 0.05) increase in the infected. The level of glutathione in normal blood significantly ( p &lt; 0.05) increases as compared with control, whereas in the infected, similar observation was made except that the levels were less, relative to control sample. Malondialdehyde level significantly ( p &lt; 0.05) increases with increase in drugs concentration even though less than the level in the control with few exceptions. These effects were dose dependent and more pronounced in non-malarial conditions. Commonly used antimalarials might alter the redox status in both healthy and non-healthy subjects thereby inducing oxidative stress. </jats:p>

Antioxidant, Hypolipidemic and Angiotensin Converting Enzyme Inhibitory Effects of Flavonoid-rich Fraction of Hyphaene thebaica (Doum Palm) Fruits on Fat-fed Obese Wistar Rats

“…This was determined as described by Brannan et al [30] with some modifications. About 50 μl of blood sample was mixed with 2.5 ml Ammonium ferrous sulphate, 100 μl xylenol orange, 250 μl sorbitol and 25 μl hydrogen peroxide.…”

Underutilized legumes, Cajanus cajan and Glycine max may bring about antisickling effect in sickle cell disease by modulation of redox homeostasis in sickled erythrocytes and alteration of its functional chemistry

“…Different concentrations of the aqueous extract (25 μg/ml, 50 μg/ ml, 75 μg/ml, and 100 μg/ml) of the blend sample were incubated with 100 μl sickled erythrocytes for 6 h at 37°C as described by Muhammad et al (2017). After incubation, the cells were centrifuged and the supernatant assayed for lipid peroxidation (Chowdhury & Soulsby, 2002), superoxide dismutase (SOD) (Kakkar et al, 1984), and catalase activities (Chance & Maehly, 1955).…”

Response to the letter to the editor on the article ‘Alteration of redox status by commonly used antimalarial drugs in the north-western region of Nigeria’ by Karolina et al.

“…At present, the commonly used antimalarial drugs in Nigeria are artemisinin, artesunate, chloroquine, coartem and quinine with different mechanism of actions at the therapeutic doses. 3 In spite of this, a good number of these drugs have the potential to cause harm when they are misused or abused. 4 It is important to appreciate the facts that these drugs, when administered, are basically transported via blood stream and therefore can affect various blood components like erythrocytes, monocytes, neutrophils, among others.…”

“…It was mixed thoroughly and 1 mL of dichromate/acetic acid solution was added at the interval of 1 min for 3 min. 3 It is also important to note that same protocol has always been adopted elsewhere. 8 Query 5: It seems like Karolina et al did not fully apprehend and appreciate our explanations under the 'Discussions' section.…”