Abstract

This study was undertaken to determine some biochemical changes of importance associated with chloroquine (CQ) treatment, using rat model of Plasmodium beighei berghei parasites. Chloroquine phosphate (5mg/kg body wt, dissolved in distilled water) was administered 3days per week for 8 weeks after infection by Plasmodium beighei beighei. The chloroquine did not potentiate any adverse effect on the formation of ascorbic acid-linked lipid peroxidation. The drug increased glutathione contents, but decreased protein and cholesterol levels. Chloroquine alone had no significant effect on malondialdehyde and alanine/aspartate transaminases, but decreased protein synthesis and cholesterol level. The characteristic biologic effects of CQ including the decrease in total cholesterol, protein synthesis, and stabilizer of lipid peroxidation as measured by malondialdehyde and the increased level of glutathione, may enhance the environmental measures of public health in cholesterol compromised individuals.

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