@article{MAKHILLIJTM202217120023,
    title = {Evaluating the Effects of Spirulina (<i>Arthrospira platensis</i>) on Artemether/Lumefantrine
(Coartem)-Induced Oxidative Stress in Wistar Rats},
    journal = {International Journal of Tropical Medicine},
    volume = {17},
    number = {1},
    pages = {1-9},
    year = {2022},
    issn = {1816-3319},
    doi = {ijtmed.2022.1.9},
    url = {https://makhillpublications.co/view-article.php?issn=1816-3319&doi=ijtmed.2022.1.9},
    author = {T.N.,R.K.A. and},
    keywords = {oxidative stress,spirulina,artemether/ lumefantrine,antioxidants,Malaria},
    abstract = {Malaria is considered as a major health
problem in Cameroon and other parts of Sub-Saharan
Africa. It remains one of the greatest causes of morbidity
and mortality in the world with Plasmodium falciparum
being the major cause of all deaths. Its management
involves the use of conventional drugs with
Artemether/Lumefantrine, AL (Coartem) being the firstchoice
drug. The administration of coartem not only
provides beneficial effects in killing the malaria parasite
but also induces oxidative stress which is fatal to the
system. Spirulina, a cyanobacteria is used worldwide as
a nutraceutical and has potential antioxidant properties
and could serve as an adjunct therapy in malaria
management. The study was thus designed to evaluate the
toxic potential of administration of the therapeutic dose of
coartem and the ameliorative effects of spirulina. Rats
were treated with distilled water, AL 27 mg/kg and
AL 27 mg/kg+ different concentration of spirulina (75,
150 and 300 mg/kg). Oxidative stress was assessed by
assessing levels of Malonyldialdehyde (MDA), Total
Antioxidant Capacity (TAC), Glutathione (GSH), Alanine
Aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate amino transferase
(AST) activities. This study found that AL nor spirulina
did not significantly (p<0.05) affect bodyweight. AL
caused oxidative stress as indicated by high levels of
MDA, ALT and AST activities with a decrease in TAC
and GSH levels. The combined treatment of rats with both
AL and spirulina showed ameliorative potential of
spirulina to oxidative stress induced by AL in a dose
dependent manner with spirulina 300 mg/kg showing the
greatest protective effects as indicated by a significant
(p<0.05) reduced levels of MDA, ALT and AST activities
with significant (p<0.05) increases in TAC and GSH
levels. These results therefore, suggests that spirulina
possesses strong antioxidant capacity and could be used
as an adjunct therapy in the management of malaria.}
    }