Abstract

The biochemical effects of Ciprofloxacin, a wide spectrum antibiotic, co-administered with Nicosan, an antisickling phytomedicine was analyzed for their possible drug interaction. Using standard methods for biochemical, haematological and antioxidant assays, our findings showed that Ciprofloxacin administration gave rise to increase in oxidative radical production, whereas Nicosan administration had no observable adverse effect. However, co-administration of both drugs was found to have no deleterious effects on body organs and erythrocytes. This suggests that the presence of Nicosan had a palliative effect on the oxidative free radicals produced as a result of the antibiotic administration.

Key words: Ciprofloxacin, Nicosan, antioxidants, free radicals.

Abbreviation

ALB, Albumin; ALP, alkaline phosphatise; ALT, alanine amino transferase; CAT, catalase; CHOL, cholesterol; CREAT, creatinine; GSH, glutathione, reduced form; GSSG, glutathione, oxidized form; HB, haemoglobin; HCT, haemoglobin count; LYMP, lymphocytes; MDA, malonaldehyde; NEUT, neutrophils; PLT, platelet; RBC, red blood cell; SOD, superoxide dismutase; TG, triglyceride; TP, total protein; WBC, white blood cell.