Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Animal Physiology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.-Pharmacology Division, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow, India.-HOPE Cardiometabolic Research Team, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
2
Parasitology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.-Taiwan international Graduate Program in Molecular Medicine, National Yang-Ming Chiao Tung University and Academia Sinica, Taipei ,Taiwan.
3
Animal Physiology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
4
Cardiovascular Research Unit, Department of Physiology, College of Health Sciences, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.-HOPE Cardiometabolic Research Team, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
5
Parasitology Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.
Abstract
Despite the common use of combined oral contraceptive (COC) as a childbirth control pill, there is no sufficient information on the effect of COC in malaria. Hence, we aimed at investigating the effect of COC on parasite growth and the associated risk of metabolic disorder in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Twenty female mice were randomly allotted into four groups (n= 5/group): uninfected, infected (inoculated with P. berghei), COC (1.0 μg ethinylestradiol and 5.0 μg levonorgestrel, p.o/day, without infection) and infected + COC. Percentage parasitaemia was recorded weekly. At the end of 21-day exposure, the mice were sacrificed, while blood and liver were collected for biochemical analyses. Our data showed progressive increase in parasitaemia in P. berghei-infected mice. Our findings also revealed that P. berghei infection did not affect serum levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and total cholesterol (TC). It, however, elevated serum malondialdehyde (MDA), serum and liver triglycerides and liver TC. Elevations of serum and liver free fatty acid and lactate were also observed in P. berghei-infected mice. However, COC treatment lowered MDA level and attenuated lipid and lactate alterations in P. berghei infection. This study, therefore, suggests that COC possesses anti-plasmodial potential to mitigate malaria-associated metabolic disturbances. Further animal and human studies are necessary to validate our findings.
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