NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENT
Journal of the Faculties of Science and Agriculture, Delta State University, Abraka, Nigeria
ISSN: 1119-9008
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE
Email: njse@universityjournals.org
CHANGES IN SERUM GLUCOSE AND LIPID PROFILE AS INTRAOCULAR PRESSURE BIOMARKERS IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI INFECTED MICE TREATED WITH AQUEOUS LEAF EXTRACT OF NAUCLEA LATIFOLIA
DOI: 10.5987/UJ-NJSE.16.010.2 | Article Number: 3A6CB010 | Vol.12 (2) - September 2013
Authors: Mordi J.C , Onyesom I and Onokurafe F
Keywords: Plasmodium berghei, Glucose, Cholesterol, TAG, HDL and Nauclea latifolia.
Nauclea latifolia has been shown to have hypocholesterolaemic and hypoglycaemic effect,
and cholesterol and glucose have been implicated to play significant roles in the pathogenesis of
glaucoma. This study investigates the serum glucose and lipid profile of Plasmodium berghei infected
mice treated with aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea latifolia. Adult albino male mice, 8 weeks
old, weighing 12g-25g and divided into 6 groups of 5 mice per group were used for the experiment.
Mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with 0.1ml parasitized blood suspension and parasitaemia
assessed by thin blood films stained with Geimsa stain. Aqueous leaf extract of Nauclea
latifolia was orally administered at different doses (200mg/kg. body weight and 300mg/kg body
weight daily) to both normal and P. berghei infected mice for a period of 4 days. Serum glucose,
triglyceride, high density lipoprotein and cholesterol levels were estimated. Significant (p<0.05)
reduction in serum glucose and cholesterol was revealed in the untreated parasitized control when
compared with other groups but no significant change (p<0.05) in serum triglyceride and high density
lipoprotein were observed in parasitized control when compared with normal control mice.
However, oral administration of Nauclea latifolia significantly (p<0.05) maintained the cholesterol
and glucose levels in the infected mice toward the normal value when compared with the untreated
parasitized mice with no significant change in the triglyceride and high density lipoprotein levels.
These results suggest that aqueous extract of Nauclea latifolia may not cause or lead to the increase
in the intraocular pressure (glaucoma) both in normal and malaria infected mice.
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