Background: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is an enzyme essential for NADPH production and protecting cells, especially red blood cells, from free radicals. The oxidative stress from drugs, chemicals, and infections can induce red blood cell hemolysis in G6PD deficiency patients, causing a genetic disorder.Objectives: This study aims to provide more information on G6PD deficiency prevalence and the G6PD variants in the southern Thai population.Methods: Five hundred and twenty healthy subjects in 14 provinces in the southern part of Thailand participated in the study. EDTA-blood samples were collected for a hematological parameters study, G6PD deficiency screening, and a molecular study for G6PD mutation. G6PD deficiency screening was tested using a fluorescent spot test. The types of G6PD mutation were identified by the allele-specific PCR method.Results: The prevalence of G6PD deficiency in southern Thailand was 6.1% (14/228) in males and 9.6% (28/292) in females. Two homozygous and 26 heterozygous G6PD deficiencies were found in females. G6PD Viangchan (871G>A) was the most common variant with 43%, followed by G6PD Mahidol (487G>A), 24% with an allele frequency of 0.025 and 0.012, respectively. Uncharacterized mutations existed in three samples. The study volunteers had anemia in 36.6% (107/292) females and 7.5% (17/228) males. Among G6PD deficiency subjects, only ten partial G6PD deficiency females had mild anemia.Conclusions: This study suggests that the prevalence of G6PD deficiency in southern Thailand aligns with that of other parts of Thailand. Newborn screening for G6PD deficiency is recommended for personal information and medical reference to prevent acute hemolysis from oxidative stressors.

Malaria remains a significant cause of death in tropical and subtropical regions by serious complications with hematological abnormalities consistent with high parasitemia. Hence, this study aimed to determine the efficacy of the Gymnema inodorum leaf extract (GIE) on hematological alteration in Plasmodium berghei infection in mice. Groups of ICR mice were infected intraperitoneally with parasitized red blood cells of P. berghei ANKA (PbANKA). They were administered orally by gavage of 100, 250, and 500mg/kg of GIE for 4 consecutive days. Healthy and untreated groups were given distilled water, while 10mg/kg of chloroquine was treated as the positive control. Hematological parameters including RBC count, hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH), mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), RBC distribution width (RDW), white blood cell (WBC) count, and WBC differential count were measured. The results showed that significant decreases of RBC count, Hb, Hct, MCV, MCH, MCHC, and reticulocytes were observed in the untreated group, while RDW was significantly increased compared with the healthy control. Furthermore, the WBC, neutrophil, monocyte, basophil, and eosinophil of untreated mice increased significantly, while the lymphocyte was significantly decreased compared with the healthy control. Interestingly, GIE normalized the hematological alteration induced by PbANKA infection in GIE-treated groups compared with healthy and untreated groups. The highest efficacy of GIE was observed at a dose of 500mg/kg. Our results confirmed that GIE presented the potential role in the treatment of hematological alteration during malaria infection.

Malaria remains highly prevalent and one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in tropical and subtropical regions. Alteration of blood coagulation and platelets has played an important role and attributed to increased morbidity in malaria. Hence, this study was performed to investigate the efficacy of Gymnema inodorum leaf extract on Plasmodium berghei-induced alteration of blood coagulation parameters and platelet numbers in mice. Groups of ICR mice were inoculated with parasitized red blood cells of P. berghei ANKA (PbANKA) and given orally by gavage with 100, 250, and 500 mg/kg of G. inodorum leaf extract (GIE). Chloroquine (10 mg/kg) was used as a positive control. Platelet count and blood coagulation parameters were measured. The results showed that PbANKA induced thrombocytopenia in mice as indicated by markedly decreased platelet count. Decreased platelet count had a negative correlation with the degree of parasitemia with value of 0.6668. Moreover, significantly ( ) shortened activated partial thromboplastin time was found in PbANKA-infected group, while prothrombin time and thrombin time were still normal. GIE gave significantly ( ) good results with respect to platelet count, compared with the results obtained from positive and healthy controls. Additionally, GIE reversed the alteration of blood coagulation parameters when compared to untreated mice. The highest efficacy of GIE was observed at a dose of 500 mg/kg. It was concluded that GIE exerted a protective effect on thrombocytopenia and altered blood coagulation parameters induced by PbANKA infection in mice. This plant may be a future candidate for alternative antimalarial development.

Background: Iron deficiency anemia is a public health problem worldwide, which can cause by nutrition deficiency, blood loss, and regular blood donation. This study aims to evaluate the hematological parameters and serum ferritin of Thai male blood donors. Methods: Eighty-nine male blood donors were divided into three groups according to their frequency of blood donation: a group of 30 cases for first time donors (group I), a group of 30 cases for donors who have donated 3-6 times (group II), and a group of 29 cases for donors who have donated more than six times (group III). Blood was collected for hematological parameters and for serum ferritin testing by immunological assay. Results: The results showed that the level of serum ferritin tended to decrease with the frequency of blood donation. The level of serum ferritin in blood donors who donated more than six times but did not take a full dose of iron supplements (43.2 ± 25.0 µg/L), statistica significant decreased when compared with the first donated group (75.4 ± 40.2 µg/L) (p=0.03). However, all hematological parameters were not significantly different among these 3 groups. Prevalence of iron depletion without anemia in group II and III were 6% and 3.4%, respectively. Only one donor in group III was iron deficiency anemia. Conclusion: This study shows that blood donation may lead to iron depletion and iron deficiency anemia, especially in more frequent donors. Iron supplements or dietary iron is required after a donation for iron level maintenance and iron deficiency prevention.

Malaria continues to be a significant global health challenge, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions, due to its high morbidity and mortality rates. The development of resistance to conventional antimalarial drugs underscores the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches. Artemisinin‐based combination therapies (ACTs) are effective but face emerging resistance issues. This study explores the antimalarial efficacy of Annona muricata leaf extract (AME) when combined with artesunate (ART), chloroquine (CQ), and pyrimethamine (PYR) in Plasmodium berghei –infected ICR mice. Fresh A. muricata leaves were processed to produce a crude ethanolic extract. ART, CQ, and PYR were prepared and administered to ICR mice infected with P. berghei ANKA. The study evaluated the parasitemia levels and survival rates, comparing combination treatments to monotherapies. The combination treatments were analyzed for synergistic interactions. Results indicated that AME alone exhibited significant antimalarial activity, especially at higher doses. The combination of AME with ART and PYR demonstrated significant synergistic effects, achieving over 90% inhibition of parasitemia and significantly prolonging mean survival times up to 30 days. However, the combination of AME with CQ did not show synergistic effects. These findings suggest that AME, particularly in combination with ART or PYR, could enhance antimalarial efficacy and offer a promising alternative to current treatments, potentially mitigating drug resistance issues. Further research is warranted to validate these combinations and explore their mechanisms of action.