Author(s): I Akinlua

Abstract: Plasmodium falciparum remains the deadliest among the malaria causing species of protozoan found mostly in female anopheles mosquito. Malaria is a serious health challenge in sub Saharan Africa. This protozoan destroy red blood cells causing anemia which complicate major tissues in the body. This research was done to evaluate the level of lipid peroxidation and antioxidant profile in the plasma of plasmodium falciparum infected subjects. The study includes 50 plasmodium falciparum infected malaria patients as test and 50 apparently healthy subjects without plasmodium falciparum infection as control group from the outpatient Department of Wesley Guide Hospital, Ilesa, Osun State. An amount of blood (5mls) was taken from both test and control and processed to obtain the plasma which was stored at room temperature before analysis. The activity of SOD, GSH, GPx and CAT and lipid peroxidation level were determined in the plasma of both test and control subjects using appropriate method. The study revealed no significant change (p<0.05) in the level of lipid peroxidation, while activities of GSH, SOD and CAT reduced significantly (p<0.05) in the plasma of plasmodium falciparum infected malaria patients. There was no significantly difference in the activity of GPx in both test and control subjects. The decreased activity of antioxidant enzymes in these patients as obtained in this research could be due to increased activity of oxidants as a result of the infection which may later expose the body to further stress if nothing is done to boost the activity of these enzymes and other relevant antioxidant system.

DOI: 10.33545/26174693.2024.v8.i4g.1012