In vitro reversal of deformity and inhibition of aggregation of sickle red blood cells by two Congolese herbal medicines

Abstract

The effects of aqueous extracts from the trunk bark and branches of Ceiba pentandra and from the root bark of Quassia africana Baill., which are claimed to overcome the clinical events of the sickle cell anemia (SCA) in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were investigated in vitro on the red blood cells (RBC) deformity and aggregation. Blood samples from SCA patients and from healthy persons were treated with 2% sodium metabisulfite to induce hypoxia and sickling of erythrocytes, and then, were incubated with the drug extracts. It was found that extracts, used separately or together, reversed the induced deformity of RBC. On the other hand, aggregates of RBC were incubated with the plant extracts and the action was evaluated by microscope examination, which showed that cells became dispersed and isolated, while they remained stacked in the samples not treated. Sickling of RBC is a major factor among others, which are implicated for initiating the events of sickle cell crises as well as the increasing red blood cells adhesiveness observed in increased blood viscosity. These observations could support the use of the two medicinal drugs to deal with the clinical events of SCA. Key words: Sickle cell anemia (SCA), red blood cell (RBC), deformity, hypoxia, aggregation, hemoglobin S, hemoglobin A, blood viscosity, hemolysis, Ceiba pentandra,Quassia africana Baill.