Assessing the influence of oils on the level of parasitemia following infection with Plasmodium berghei in a murine model

In some cultures, the consumption of oils is thought to predispose one to malaria attack. Therefore, this study sought to investigate this belief by examining the effects of some commonly consumed oils on mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. The oils were extracted from their respective food sources using cold maceration method and their physicochemical properties were determined using instrumental methods. Next, a survey of the consumption patterns of oily foods among 230 adults was conducted using a questionnaire. Subsequently, forty (40) albino mice were randomly divided into 8 groups of 5 animals each, with each group receiving either the human equivalent doses (HEDs) of one oil or double that (DHED) for two weeks before infection. The control groups received distilled water. Afterwards, each experimental animal was inoculated with 1 × 10^7 of chloroquine-sensitive P. berghei-infected packed red blood cells through intraperitoneal injection. The treatment was continued once daily for one week. Thin smears stained with Giemsa were prepared from tail blood samples collected on the 4th-day post-inoculation to monitor parasitemia levels. There was a significant reduction (p < 0.05) in parasitaemia in animals treated with the HEDs of groundnut oil, and both the HED and DHED of coconut oil while Scumbia fish oil caused a significant reduction in parasitaemia at DHED. Coconut oil and Scumbia fish oil may possess antimalarial activities, contrary to the belief that consuming all oils may predispose one to malaria attack.