Toxicological Evaluation of Bee Sting in Plasmodium berghei Infected Mice
Oluwatosin Kudirat Shittu *
Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria
Rabiu Ibrahim
Tropical Disease Research Unit, Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B. 65, Minna, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Based on the traditional and scientific claims of intra-dermal antiplasmodial activity of bee stings, its effect on liver and serum enzymes in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice were investigated.
Methodology: Twenty albino mice were intra-peritoneally infected with P. berghei and divided into four animals per group. Group I was set up as negative control (parasitized untreated), group II as parasitized treated with 5 mg chloroquine/kg body weight, group III as suppressive treated, group IV as curative treated and group five as not parasitized not treated.
Results: The results of serum alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) of the infected treated with chloroquine shows significant increase when compared to other experimental groups (p˂ 0.05). Whereas, there was increase in liver AST in group II, group III and group IV when compared to not parasitized not treated (p˂ 0.05). Also, there was significant decrease in liver ALT activity in all the experimental groups. The serum and liver gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) showed no significant difference (p<0.05) in the curative and suppressive groups when compared to the standard drug (chloroquine). Whereas, parasitized not treated group shows significant increase (p<0.05) in the liver GGT and ALP when compared with other experimental groups. Therefore, these increases in specific activity of the parasitized untreated group might be due to infection.
Conclusion: It can be concluded that bee sting have ameliorative effect against changes caused by P. berghei.
Keywords: Malaria, bee sting, Plasmodium berghei, enzyme activities