The Antisickling Properties of Aristeus Antennatus Extracts in the Management of Sickle Cell Disease

Abstract

The antisickling effect of dried Aristeus antennatus was investigated to ascertain the efficacy of the extract of the sample to inhibit polymerization of sickle cell haemoglobin (HbSS), and improve the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio of sickle cell blood. The sample was first dried, ground into powder and soaked in chloroform to defat it in order to produce the fat soluble fraction (filtrate). The defatted residue was air-dried and later soaked in methanol for 24 hours to obtain the methanol soluble fraction. The fat soluble fractions (FAS) and methanol soluble fractions (MAS) were able to inhibit HbSS polymerization to varying degrees from 58% for FAS and 69% for MAS. Phytochemical analysis of the sample revealed the presence of proanthocyanin, quinine, saponin, isoflavone, spartein, phytate, cyanogenic glycoside, catechin, flavone, tannin, oxalate, alkaloids and others, at varying concentrations. Amino acid composition was determined for the sample using the amino acid analyzer (PTH), which revealed a preponderance of both essential and non-essential amino acids of which some were antisickling amino acids at varying concentrations. The identified amino acids include: Phenylalanine, Histidine, Leucine, Lysine, Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Valine, Methionine, Proline, Arginine, Tyrosine, Serine and others. However, the FAS and MAS fractions of the sample Aristeus antennatus extract improved Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio significantly. Aristeus antennatus extracts with the preponderance of micro and macro nutrients, vitamins, antioxidants, amino acids and others, may be very beneficial for the management of sickle cell disease.