Lycopene supplementation promoted increased survival and decreased parasitemia in mice with severe malaria: comparison with N-acetylcysteine

Everton Luiz P Varela ^1,2, Antônio Rafael Q Gomes ^1,3, Aline S B Dos Santos ^1,2

⁰Universidade Federal do Pará, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Laboratório de Pesquisas em Estresse Oxidativo, Av. Augusto Correa, 01, 66075-110 Belém, PA, Brazil.

Anais Da Academia Brasileira De Ciencias +

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July 24, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

Lycopene (LYC) supplementation significantly improved survival rates and reduced malaria parasite levels in infected mice. This antioxidant shows promise for malaria treatment, outperforming N-acetylcysteine (NAC).

Area Of Science

Infectious Diseases
Malariology
Oxidative Stress Research

Background

Oxidative stress is a key factor in malaria pathogenesis, contributing to severe complications like anemia and cerebral malaria.
Antioxidant interventions are being explored to mitigate the detrimental effects of malaria infection.

Purpose Of The Study

To evaluate the efficacy of lycopene (LYC) supplementation in managing parasitemia and improving survival rates in a murine malaria model.
To compare the effects of lycopene with N-acetylcysteine (NAC), another antioxidant, in malaria-infected mice.

Main Methods

175 mice were infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA (Pb) and divided into four groups: Sham (uninfected), Pb (infected), LYC+Pb (lycopene-treated and infected), and NAC+Pb (NAC-treated and infected).
Parasitemia and survival rates were monitored over 12 days post-infection.

Main Results

In the untreated infected group (Pb), parasitemia increased by 40.1% and survival was 45% by day 12.
Lycopene supplementation (LYC+Pb) reduced parasitemia development to 19% and increased survival to 80% by day 12.
Lycopene demonstrated superior efficacy compared to N-acetylcysteine in improving survival and reducing parasitemia.

Conclusions

Lycopene (LYC) supplementation exhibits significant beneficial effects against Plasmodium berghei ANKA infection in mice.
The findings highlight the potential of antioxidant supplementation, particularly lycopene, as an adjunct therapy for malaria.
Further research into lycopene's role in combating malaria-induced oxidative stress is warranted.