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Vitamin C-rich juice co-administration with artemether-lumefantrine ameliorates oxido-inflammatory responses in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice

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Abstract

This study investigated the effects of co-administration of a commercial juice rich in vitamin C (Vit C) on the antimalarial efficacy of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Fifty Balb/c mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain from a donor mouse. Parasitemia was established after 72 h. Animals were grouped into 6 (n = 10) and treated daily for 3 days with normal saline, chloroquine, artemether-lumefantrine (AL), AL plus 50% commercial juice (CJ), and AL plus 50% Vit C supplementation in drinks ad libitum, respectively. Body weight, parasitemia levels, and mean survival time were determined. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 6 (IL-6), nitrite, malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione (GSH), catalase, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were determined in the serum and liver tissues. Spleen histopathological changes were determined by H&E staining. Parasitemia was cleared by administration of AL and was not affected by Vit C and CJ supplementation. Vit C significantly prevented body weight reduction in AL-treated mice. CJ and Vit C supplementation to AL-treated mice significantly improved survival proportion compared with AL alone animals. Vit C and CJ supplementation significantly improved reduction of TNF-α, IL-6, and malondialdehyde, and increased GSH, CAT, and SOD in AL-treated mice. Spleen cell degeneration and presence of malaria pigment were reduced in AL-treated animals. The results suggest that ad libitum co-administration of commercial juice and vitamin C with artemether-lumefantrine does not impair its antimalarial efficacy but rather improved antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects in mice.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the technical assistance of Mrs. Thomas and Mrs. Braimoh of IAMRAT towards parasite inoculation and microscopy. The kind support of Dr. Olumayokun Olajide, Department of Pharmacy, University of Huddersfield, UK, towards the purchase of laboratory reagents and ELISA kits is acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria

    Abayomi M. Ajayi, Iyanuoluwa M. Adebanjo & Olusegun G. Ademowo

  2. Institute of Advanced Medical Research and Training (IAMRAT), College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria

    Olusegun G. Ademowo

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  1. Abayomi M. Ajayi
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  3. Olusegun G. Ademowo
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Contributions

AMA, IMA, and OGA conceptualized and designed the study. AMA and IMA carried out the experiment in the laboratory of OGA. AMA and IMA analyzed the data and wrote the draft manuscript.

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Correspondence to Abayomi M. Ajayi.

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Experimental procedures and protocols used in this study were approved by the University of Ibadan—Animal Care and Use Research Ethic Committee (UI-ACUREC/19/118).

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Ajayi, A.M., Adebanjo, I.M. & Ademowo, O.G. Vitamin C-rich juice co-administration with artemether-lumefantrine ameliorates oxido-inflammatory responses in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Parasitol Res 122, 1841–1850 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-023-07885-5

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