Antisickling Properties of Hydro-Alcoholic Extract of Ficus abutilifolia Leaves

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antisickling activity of a hydro-ethanolic extract of Ficus abutilifolia leaves using an in vitro model with red blood cells from AS and SS sickle cell subjects.

Materials and Methods: Emmel tests were conducted on blood samples collected from for healthy subjects AA, for healthy subjects AS and for subjects SS using a freshly prepared sodium metabisulphite solution. The average age of the subjects was 18 years. There were 8 women, including 4 with SS, 2 with AS, and 2 healthy subjects, as well as 4 men, including 2 with AS and 2 healthy subjects. In eight experiments, the samples were pretreated with a solution of Ficus abutilifolia leaf extract at varying concentrations (1.25 and 2.5 mg/ml). Micrographs were then taken for quantification purposes.

Results: The findings indicate that, in the basal state, SS subjects had a higher sickle cell count (90.15%) compared to AS subjects (73.15%). The Ficus abutilifolia leaf extract (EFFA) resulted in a significant reduction in the sickle cell count in SS subjects, with the rate dropping from 90.15% to 20.93% at a concentration of 1.25 mg/ml. In AS subjects, the sickle cell count decreased from 73.15% to 10.75% at the same concentration. However, increasing the extract concentration to 2.50 mg/ml seemed to lessen this effect, with only a slight reduction in the preventive effect on sickling. **** p < 0.0001 for inhibitory effect versus control.

Conclusion: These results indicate that the Ficus abutilifolia leaf extract exhibits an antisickling activity, which supports its use in traditional medicine.