COMBINED ORAL CONTRACEPTIVE (ETHINYLESTRADIOL/ LEVONORGESTREL) ALLEVIATES LIPID AND LACTATE ALTERATIONS IN PLASMODIUM BERGHEI-INFECTED MICE
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Date
2022-04-08
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Assiut University, Egypt
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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Keywords
Plasmodium berghei, malaria, COC, metabolic, lipid