Studies on the anti-sickling effects of Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina on Hbss erythrocytes

Abstract

The percentage of hemoglobin S polymerization in the presence of ethanol extracts of Azadirachta indica and Vernonia amygdalina were used as the basis for ascertaining the possible anti-sickling properties of the two plant species on HbSS erythrocytes. In vitro HbS polymerization was induced by 2% sodium metabisulphite solution and comparative studies were carried out to evaluate the relative levels of HbS polymerization of the control sample with those of the two test samples, TS ₁ (ethanol extract of A. indica) and TS ₂ (ethanol extract of V. amygdalina). Spectrophotometric method was used to monitor the level of gelation of HbS for a period of twenty-two (22) minutes (l max = 700nm). The results showed that ethanol extracts of V. amygdalina activated HbS polymerization between 70.32% and 0.32% while A. indica inhibited HbS polymerization within the range of 37.28% and 1.83%. These findings suggest that A. indica has medicinal potentials for the management of sickle cell anemia disease.

International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2(1) 2006: 24-28