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.

Akubue, P. I. and Mittal, G. C. (1982).

Clinical evaluation of a traditional herbal

practice in Nigeria : preliminary report.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology 6(3):355

– 359.

Armstrong, J. R., Daily, R. K., Dobson, H.

L. and Girard, L. J. (1960). The incidence

of glaucoma in diabetes mellitus. A

comparison with the incidence of glaucoma

on the general population. American

Journal of Opthalmology. 50: 55 – 63.

Becker, B. (1971). Diabete mellitus and primary

open angle glaucoma: the XXVII

Edward Jackson Memorial lecture. American

Journal of Opthalmology 71: 1 – 16.

Benoit-Vical, F., Valentin, A., Cournac, V.

Pélissier, Y., Mallié, M. and Bastide,

J.M. (1998). in vitro antiplasmodial activity

of stem and root extracts of Nauclea

latifolia S.M. (Rubiaceae). Journal of Ethnopharmacology.

61: 173-178.

Bouzas, A, G., Gragoudas, E. S. , Balodimos,

M. C., Brinegar, C. H. and Aiello,

L. M. (1971). Intraocular pressure in diabetes:

relationship to retinopathy and

blood glucose level. Archives of Ophthalmology

85(4): 423 – 427.

Gidado, A., Ameh, D.A. and Atawodi, S.E.

(2004). Effect Of Nauclea latifolia Leaves

Aqueous Extracts On Blood Glucose Levels

Of Normal And Alloxan-Induced Diabetic

Rats. African Journal of Biotechnology.

4(1): 91-93.

Goth, E. and Blumenfeld, G. (1964). Hyperlipemia

and diabetoid metabolic disorders.

Orvosi Hetilap. 105: 1786.

Gupta, M.C., Khosla, P., and Garg, K.N.

(2012). Correlation between intraocular

pressure and biochemical changes in experimental

glaucoma. Indian Journal of

Ophthalmology. 33(5): 309 – 312.

Hanisch, J., Blumenfeld, G. and Hegedus,

A. (1966). Klin. Monat. Fur. Augenheilk.

148: 850.

Mordi et. al.

 66

Nigerian Journal of Science and Environment, Vol. 12 (2) (2013)

Kokwaro, J.O. (1976). Medicinal plants of E.

Africa. East Africa Literature bureau,

Nairobi p. 35.

Kulkarni, A.G., Suryakar, A.N., Sardeshmukh,

A.S. and Rathi, D.B. (2003).

Studies on biochemical changes with special

reference to oxidants and antioxidants

in malaria patients. Indian Journal of

Clinical Biochemistry. 18(2): 136- 149.

Lieb, W. A., Stark, N., Jelinek, C. M. B.

and Malzi, R. (1967). Berlin. Deutsb,

Ophth. Gest. 68: 437.

Nworgu, Z.A.M., Onwukaeme, D.N.,

Afolayan, A.J., Ameachin, F.C. and Ayinde,

B.A. (2008). Preliminary studies of

blood pressure lowering effect of Nauclea

latifolia in rats. African Journal of Pharmacy

and Pharmacology. 2(2): 37-41.

Omale, J. and Haruna, H. U. (2011). Hypocholesterolemic

Effects Of Nauclea Latifolia

(Smith) Fruit Studied In Albino Rats.

American Journal Of Tropical Medicine

& Public Health. 1(1): 11-21.

Orban, T., Hanish, J. and Vereb, K. (1966).

Neue Anschauung Des Pathomechanismus

Des Glaukomanfalls. Klinische

Monatsblatter Fur Augenheilkunde; 149

(6): 847–858.

Peng, W.D. (1999). Hypotensive effect of

tenfolic saponin and its mechanism.

Zhongguo. Yao. Li. Xue. Bao. 20(7): 639-

642.

Segasaka-Mitane, Y., Sugiura, T., Miwa,

Y., Yamaguchi, K. and Kyuki, K.

(1996). Effect of Tea leaf saponin on

blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive

rats. Yakugaku. Zasshi. 116(5): 388 –

395.

Traore, F., Gasquet, M., Laget, M.,

Guiraud, H., Di Giorgio, C., Azas, N.,

Doumbo, O. and Timon-David, P.

(2000). Toxicity and genotoxicity of antimalarial

alkaloid rich extracts derived

from Mitragyna inermis O. Kuntze and

Nauclea latifolia. Phytotherapy Research.

14(8): 608-611.

Wadie, B.O. (2002). Molecular approach to

malaria. Medical Parasitology. 28: 1671-

1680.

Wagner, H. and Ulrich-Merzenich, G.

(2009). Synergy research: approaching a

new generation of phytopharmaceuticals.

Phytomedicine. 16: 97–110.

WHO (2007). Fact Sheet No 94, World

Health Organization, Geneva.