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Comparative Study
. 2012 Dec 22:12:262.
doi: 10.1186/1472-6882-12-262.

Solenostemon monostachyus, Ipomoea involucrata and Carica papaya seed oil versus Glutathione, or Vernonia amygdalina: methanolic extracts of novel plants for the management of sickle cell anemia disease

Israel Sunmola Afolabi  1 , Iyanuoluwa Olubukola Osikoya, Oluwabukunmi Dorcas Fajimi, Priscilla Ibanga Usoro, Damilola Olufunlayo Ogunleye, Tolulope Bisi-Adeniyi, Alaba O Adeyemi, Bosede Temitope Adekeye
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Solenostemon monostachyus, Ipomoea involucrata and Carica papaya seed oil versus Glutathione, or Vernonia amygdalina: methanolic extracts of novel plants for the management of sickle cell anemia disease

Israel Sunmola Afolabi et al. BMC Complement Altern Med. .

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a genetic disease caused by an individual inheriting an allele for sickle cell hemoglobin from both parents and is associated with unusually large numbers of immature blood cells, containing many long, thin, crescent-shaped erythrocytes. It is a disease prevalent throughout many populations. The use of medicinal plants and nutrition in managing SCD is gaining increasing attention.

Methods: The antisickling effects of Solenostemon monostachyus (SolMon), Carica papaya seed oil (Cari-oil) and Ipomoea involucrata (Ipocrata) in male (HbSSM) and female (HbSSF) human sickle cell blood was examined in vitro and compared with controls, or cells treated with glutathione or an antisickling plant (Vernonia amygdalina; VerMyg).

Results: Levels of sickle blood cells were significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all the plant-extract treated SCD patients' blood compared with that of untreated SCD patients. RBCs in SolMon, Ipocrata, and Cari-oil treated samples were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with VerMyg-treated samples. The Fe(2+)/Fe(3+) ratio was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in all plant extract-treated HbSSM samples compared with controls. Hemoglobin concentration was significantly increased (P < 0.05) by SolMon treatment in HbSSF compared with VerMyg. Sickle cell polymerization inhibition exhibited by SolMon was significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with that of VerMyg in HbSSF blood. Sickle cell polymerization inhibition in SolMon and Ipocrata were significantly higher (P < 0.05) compared with VerMyg in HbSSM blood. All plant extracts significantly reduced (P < 0.05) lactate dehydrogenase activity in both HbSSM and HbSSF-treated blood. Catalase activity was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in HbSSF blood treated with Ipocrata compared with glutathione. Cari-oil treated HbSSM and HbSSF blood had significantly increased (P < 0.05) peroxidase activity compared with controls.

Conclusions: Methanolic extracts from S. monostachyus, C. papaya seed oil and I. involucrata exhibited particular antisickling properties coupled with the potential to reduce stress in sickle cell patients. Each plant individually or in combination may be useful for the management of sickle cell disease.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Picture of blood collected from a sickle cell blood (Magnification: x1000).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Picture of sickle cell patient blood treated with Ipomoea involucrata (Magnification: x1000).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Picture of sickle cell patient blood treated with Solenostermon monostachyus (Magnification: x1000).
Figure 4
Figure 4
Picture of sickle cell patient blood treated with Carica papaya seed oil (Magnification: x1000).
Figure 5
Figure 5
Picture of sickle cell patient blood treated with Vernonia amygdalina (Magnification: x1000).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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