Oral Administration of Archachatina Marginata Hemolymph Depresses Reactive Oxygen Species Scavenging Potentials in Wistar Rat

Abstract

High blood pressure (hypertension) and its related complications and fatality are on the increase globally. Hypertension is conventionally managed with drugs and lifestyle adjustment. There exists a myriad of folkloric remedies to manage hypertension. The oral administration of the filtered hemolymph of Archachatina marginata is one of the more common ways of managing hypertension among the Yoruba speaking people (South-west) of Nigeria. This study investigated the effects of the oral administration of the hemolymph of Archachatina marginata on normotensive wistar rats. Different groups of normotensive wistar rats were orally administered with 22.8mg/kg and 45.6mg/kg body weight filtered hemolymph, and nifedipine daily for seven (7) days. The animals were subsequently sacrificed post peritoneal anesthesia with mixture of urethane and chlorase. Blood was collected, and the different organs removed and evaluated for the different types and concentrations of antioxidants. Glutathione and superoxide dismutase concentrations were reduced in the liver and kidney of rats administered with hemolymph  compared with the control and nifedipine treated groups. Liver and kidney malonaldehyde concentrations were elevated compared with the distill water and nifedipine treated groups. Malonaldehyde and glutathione levels were significantly higher in the heart of the hemolymph treated rats compared with other groups. The circulating blood levels of total cholesterol, high density and low density lipoproteins and triglycerides were higher in the hemolymph treated groups compared with the distill water treated group. Taken together, all these data suggests an increased level of oxidative stress on the animals consequent upon the administration of the hemolymph of Archachatina marginata.

Keywords: Archachatina marginata, reactive oxygen species, hemolymph.