The Anti-Sickling Properties of Ethanol Extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla and Moringa oleifera Leaves

Abstract

The ethanol extracts of Euphorbia heterophylla and Moringa oleifera showed potential anti-sickling activity. The sickling inhibition and reversal activities of the extracts were significant (P<0.05) compared to their negative controls without the extracts at all. Moringa oleifera however showed greater anti-sickling activity of 93% as opposed 52% for Euphorbia heterophylla at their 12.5% concentrations. The osmotic fragility of the sickle red blood cells were significantly (P<0.05) reduced by the extracts of the two plants at all their concentrations. These results are discussed in relation to the extracts sickling inhibition and sickling reversal activities.

Keywords: Anti-sickling properties, Euphorbia heterophylla, Moringa oleifera