Lipid and Antioxidant Profile of Chitosan Bound Ethylacetate Fractions of Cocos nucifera Husk Fiber in Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice

Abstract

 Malaria is a parasitic disease that occurs in tropical and subtropical regions of the world. About 500 million cases of malaria occur every year, and one million people, mostly children living in sub-Saharan Africa, die as a result. This study was conducted to determine the lipid and antioxidant status of chitosan bound ethylacetate fraction of cocos nucifera husk fiber in p. berghei infected mice. Swiss albino mice were innoculated with Plasmodium berghei. The forty five mice were randomly assigned into nine groups, of 5 mice each. Administration of the Therapeutic Dose (TD) (80mg/kg) and Sub Therapeutic Dose (STD) (20mg/kg) (gotten from preliminary studies) of ethylacetate extract fraction of Cocos nucifera husk fibre coupled with chitosan and chitosan/alginate was done orally for four days post-inoculation and 0.2ml of the extract was administered. Group A served as positive control (not infected), Group B received appropriate volume of distilled water, Group C received 5mg/kg. Chloroquine (infected), Group D received 80mg/kg of extract (therapeutic dose), Group E received 20mg/kg of extract ( sub-therapeutic dose, infected), Group F received 80mg/kg of extract + Chitosan + infected, Group G received 20mg/kg of extract + Chitosan + infected, Group H received 80mg/kg of extract + Chitosan/ Alginate + infected, Group I received 20mg/kg of extract + Chitosan/Alginate + infected. At the end of the experimental period, selected tissues was collected, isolated and homogenized. Antioxidant (MDA, GSH and GST) and lipid profile activities (Cholesterol, HDL and LDL) were determined. The results reveal that, there was a significantly decreased in the level of the non-treated groups as compared to other treated groups and control in cholesterol, HDL and LDL level while there was significant increase in triacylglyeride level in non – treated groups compared to other test groups and control after the administered ethylacetate fraction of cocos nucifera bound to chitosan microparticles. In present study reduced glutathione (GSH), GST and lipid peroxidation product malondialdehyde (MDA) were increased significantly compared to test groups and control. These results suggest that ethylacetate fraction of Cocos nucifera husk fibre bound to chitosan microparticles may boost body’s antioxidant systems, which neutralizes the effects of free radicals and also able to reverse the change in serum lipid profile caused by malaria infection.