title: Effect of dequalinium on the oxidative stress in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes.
abstract: The bisquinoline drug dequalinium (DQ) has demonstrated remarkable activity against some infection diseases, including malaria. Oxidative stress represents a biochemical target for potential antimalarials. In this work, we have tested the ability of this compound to modify the oxidative status in Plasmodium berghei-infected erythrocytes. After hemolysis, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione cycle, and dehydrogenase enzymes were investigated. The activity of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGLD) in infected cells were diminished by this drug compared to controls (300% and 80% approximately, respectively), while glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione transferase (GST), and glutathione levels were also lowered. As a compensatory response, we could appreciate an increase of SOD activity (20% approximately) in infected cells treated with DQ; however, catalase was not affected by the compound. Lipid peroxidation was also decreased by this drug, protecting the cells from the hemolysis caused by the infection. In conclusion, oxidative stress represents a biochemical event which is modulated by DQ, interfering with the antioxidant regular activities in P. berghei infection.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Bioquímica, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, Venezuela. juanricardorodrigues@yahoo.es
authors.forename: Juan R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Neira D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Gamboa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003868:Dequalinium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000469:parasitology*; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D010962:Plasmodium berghei / Q000187:drug effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D003868:Dequalinium; D010734:Phosphogluconate Dehydrogenase; D005954:Glucosephosphate Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D005978:Glutathione