Antioxidant Effect of Aqueous Extract of Curcuma longa Rhizomes (Zingiberaceae) in the Typhoid Fever Induced in Wistar Rats Model

Background: The pathogenesis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) linked to chronic diseases such as typhoid fever has warranted the intensive search for plants with antioxidant properties.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the in vivo antioxidant activities of the aqueous extract from Curcuma longa rhizomes (Zingiberaceae) in the typhoid fever induced in rats.

Place and Duration of Study: Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Dschang, Dschang, Cameroon, between March and July 2015.

Methodology: The Salmonella typhi infected rats (1.5x108 CFU) regularly received different doses of plant extract (10, 30 and 60 mg/kg or oxyteracyclin 5 mg/kg) daily for 11 days. The levels of parameters such as catalase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), total peroxidase, malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide (NO) were determined.

Results: The present study revealed that Curcuma longa has significant in vivo antityphoid and antioxidant activities and can then be used to protect tissue from oxidative stress. The result showed a significant decrease in tissues and serum catalase and peroxidase, and a significant increase in NO, MDA and ALP levels in negative control animals. The treatment resulted in a significant normalization of the levels of the above markers when compared with neutral control group.

Conclusion: Based on this study, we conclude that the aqueous extract of Curcuma longa possesses in vivo antioxidant activity and can be used in protecting tissue from oxidative stress in case of typhoid fever.