RESUMEN
Dyslipidemia is highly prevalent in sickle cell anemia (SCA) patients and is one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases induced by oxidative stress in Africa. The aim of this research was to investigate the correlation between higher atherogenic index of plasma (API) and oxidative stress in a group of patients living with SCA in Cameroon. Methods. A group of 85 homozygote SS patients (male and female) were enrolled at the Central hospital of Yaounde in Cameroon between May and October 2017. After informed consent through the signature of a consent form was obtained, the plasma was collected to determine the lipid profile while the lysate solution of RBC was used to explore some markers of oxidative stress using spectrophotometric methods. Results. Among the 85 patients included in our study, the mean age was 30 ± 5 years and the female to male ratio was 0.97. The majority of the patients (52-81%) had dyslipidaemia, and 22.4% of the patients demonstrated a higher level of atherogenic index of plasma. The patients with a higher level of total cholesterol (TC) (>240 mg/dl) and low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) (>159 mg/dl) had at least 1,334 fold of malondialdeheyde (MDA) concentration than those with normal level. Also in the same patients, the higher atherogenic plasmatic index (API) significantly (p < 0.05) increased with the concentration of MDA. Except HDL-C, the other parameters of lipid profile had significant (p < 0.05) correlation with reduced glutathione (GsH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). The significant (p < 0.05) and linear regression was found between the increased MDA and higher API. Conclusion. Dyslipidemia increases oxidative stress and higher API which leads to coronary vascular disease in patients with SCA.
RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Spirulina platensis produced in Nomayos (Cameroon) is used as a dietary supplement. S. platensis is known as a neutraceutical with many beneficial effects on humans like lipid-lowering action. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of hypolipidemic action of aqueous extract of Spirulina platensis (S. platensis) through the toxicological studies. METHODS: In this study, we included two month old Wistar rats, weighing between 180 and 200 g. Aqueous S. platensis was extracted and prepared using standard methods. The rats received a supplementation of S. platensis at 5000 mg/Kg of body weight as single dose in acute toxicity whereas different doses (250, 500, 1000 mg / kg body weight) were administered in subacute toxicity compared to control. Acute and subacute toxicities were determined according to the guidelines 420 (14 days) and 407 (28 days) of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) respectively. Biochemical parameters such as urea, creatinine, total and direct bilirubin, lipid profile and transaminases; and histopathological analysis of the liver and kidneys were used to evaluate the toxicity of S. platensis on these Wistar rats. Plasmatic hydroxymethyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMG CoA reductase) and lecithine cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) were performed to explain the lipid-lowering action of S. platensis. Histopathological analysis of the liver and kidneys was performed. RESULTS: Our results show a decrease in total cholesterol for male rats (from 84 to 74 mg/dl) when the dose of S. platensis increased; this reduction of the total cholesterol level in male rats was significant at 500 mg/kg. There was also a significant inhibition of HMG CoA reductase in a dose dependent manner between 25 and 84.5 fold compared to the control in both male and female groups. At the dose of 250 mg/kg bw, the level of LCAT was higher compared with other groups and control, but the difference was not statistically significant. A slight inflammation in the liver and the mesangial hyperplasia of the renal glomeruli was revealed by the histopathological investigation in subacute toxicity. CONCLUSION: Spirulina platensis from Cameroon appears to have little toxic effects and may demonstrate hypolipidemic activity through the activation of LCAT.
RESUMEN
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), products of normal cell metabolism may cause damage to biological macromolecules leading to severe health threats when they are present in high concentrations. Aromatic plants contain phytochemicals rich of antioxidants that prevent oxidant formation or scavenge oxidants produced under oxidative stress conditions. In the present study, we investigated the free radical scavenging effects, the antioxidant and ion toxicity preventive effect of Xylopia aethiopica (X. aethiopica), a plant of the family of Annonaceae used as spice in Cameroon. The scavenging properties of extracts of X. aethiopica were tested on 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), nitric oxide (NO), hydroxyl (OH), 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radicals. The total antioxidant capacity was assayed by ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), phosphomolybdenum antioxidant power (PAP), reduction assays. The protective potential was carried on superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase and peroxidases. The results showed that both the ethanolic (BEE) and the hydroethanolic (BEH) extracts from the barks of X. aethiopica scavenged all the tested radicals. The sample BEH showed the highest total antioxidant capacity both in the FRAP and the PAP. This result was positively correlated to its higher phenolic content (30.74±0.44 CAE/g dried extract). The higher protective capacity of BEH on SOD, catalase and peroxidase activities was comparable to that of the vitamin C used as standard. In conclusion, X. aethiopica has a higher antioxidant and protective potential against ion-mediated oxidative damage and may be considered as a potential drug against metal-mediated toxicity.
