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

Abstract

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 2+/Fe3+ ratio was significantly reduced (P 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.

Keywords

• Sickle cell disease
• Health
• Management
• Antisickling
• Underutilized
• Plants