Antisickling property of Carica papaya leaf extract
Date
2009-04
Authors
Imaga, N.O.A.
Gbenle, G.O.
Okochi, V.I.
Akanbi, S.O.
Edeoghon, S.O.
Oigbochie, V.
Kehinde, M.O.
Bamiro, S.B.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Academic Journals
Abstract
Sickle cell disease (SCD) results from a mutation in the hemoglobin inside the red blood cells, where a
glutamic acid at position 6 is replaced by a valine. Many phytomedicines have been identified as
potential antisickling agents, stemming from reported usage as ethnomedicines by the local folk. This
research examined methanolic leaf extracts of Carica papaya L. (Caricaceae) for possible in vitro
antisickling and membrane-stabilizing activities involving the use of positive (p-hydroxybenzoic acid 5
mg/ml) and negative (normal saline) controls for the antisickling experiments and osmotic fragility test
on Hbss red blood cells obtained from non-crisis state sickle cell patients. Fragiliograms indicated that
the plant extract reduced hemolysis and protected erythrocyte membrane integrity under osmotic
stress conditions. Pretreatment of SS cell suspensions with C. papaya leaf extract inhibited formation
of sickle cells under severe hypoxia, with only 0 - 5% sickle cells at 40 min compared with untreated SS
cell suspensions which had over 60% sickle cells. These results indicate the feasibility of C. papaya as
an attractive potential candidate for SCD therapy.
Description
Keywords
Research Subject Categories::NATURAL SCIENCES::Chemistry::Biochemistry , Antisickling , membrane-stabilizing , sickle cell disease , erythrocyte fragility , Carica papaya , toxicity profile
Citation
Imaga, N. O. A, Gbenle, G. O., Okochi, V. I., Akanbi S. O., Edeoghon, S.O., Oigbochie, V. , Kehinde, M. O. and Bamiro, S.B. African J. of Biochemistry Research 4(4) 102-106. 2009