Prophylactic activity of Chitosan against Plasmodium berghei infections in BALB/c mice

M. Yun yuh, N. Kalaivani and B. A. H. Zainal-Abidin*

School of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology Universiti Kebangsaan, Malaysia, UKM - 436 00 Bangi, Selangor (Malaysia).

ABSTRACT: The prophylactic effect of crustacean chitosan (CC) against malarial infection was examined in BALB/c mice. CC dissolved in 0.5% acetic acid at different concentrations was given either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally from day 0 to day 5. Mice which received 0.5% acetic acid were used as the negative control whereas mice treated with chloroquine diphosphate were served as the positive control. All mice were infected with parasitized red blood cells on day 4. Our results showed that CC treatment, either administered intraperitoneally or orally, possessed prophylactic effects on blood induced infection of P. berghei. All CC-treated mice exhibited longer life-span when compared to control mice received only vehicle. However, CC treatment intraperitoneally gave stronger protection where a dosage at 250 mg/kg showed significant parasite suppression as well as longer survival time of the infected mice. CC treatment through i.p. route also caused significantly higher neutrophil counts in the peripheral blood. We suggest that the activation of neutrophils in peripheral blood through prophylactic activity of CC may play a crucial role in the antimalarial activity of the host.

KEYWORDS: Chitosan; Plasmodium berghei; prophylactic activity; BALB/c mice

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