Abstract

Objective: To estimate superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in erythrocytes infected with Plasmodium falciparum in the cases of cerebral malaria. Methods: The diagnosis of cerebral malaria was made clinically and by Giemsa stained peripheral blood smear examination, quantitative buffy coat (QBC) examination and rapid antigen detection test (RDT). Parasitemia per micro litre of blood was evaluated by counting 200 white blood corpuscles and used to calculate parasite density considering 8000 white blood corpuscles per micro litre. SOD activity was estimated by the method given by Joe M. McCord and Irwin Fridovich spectrophotometrically. Statistical analysis was performed by using SPSS software version 17. Results: The SOD activity in the cases was found to be (1.06 ± 0.50) nmol/mL and that in the controls was (3.55 ± 0.07) nmol/mL. The SOD activity in the cases was significantly decreased (P < 0.05) as compared to the controls. The Pearson’s coefficient of correlation between SOD activity and parasitemia was found to be -0.93 showing strong negative relationship. Conclusions: There is severe oxidative stress in falciparum malaria due to reactive oxygen species and supplementation of antioxidants may modify the course and outcome of the disease.

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