Effect of African Potato (Hypoxis Hemerocallidea) Extract on Oxidative Stress Induced by Chloroquine in Albino Rats (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Chloroquine is a synthetic aminoquinoline and is widely used in the treatment of malaria [1] and also as a prophylactic drug in the prevention of malaria [2]. It possesses diverse pharmacological activity. During prophylactic treatment, chloroquine affects the enzymatic and non enzymatic antioxidant defense indices. Chloroquine also induces oxidative stress in cells such as, kidney cells and astroglial cells having high metabolic activities [3, 4]. Since it also possesses immuno suppressive potency [5], it is also used for the treatment of inflammation and rheumatoid arthritis [6]. Treatment with chloroquine results in several side effects for example treatment of rheumatoid arthritis with chloroquine, inhibits lymphocyte proliferation, releases enzymes from lysosomes and reactive oxygen species from macrophages [7]. Thus it is clear that chloroquine exerts its toxic effects on the vital organs. Therefore there is a need to supplement the chloroquine treatment with antioxidants that could prevent/inhibit its toxic effect by reducing the oxidative stress. Plants such as Hypoxis hemerocallidea are the good options because of their richness in antioxidants [8].