To study the In vitro Anti-Sickling Activity of Adansonia digitata Fruits Extract on Sickle Cells

Background: Traditional medicine is used along with synthetic pharmaceutical products to enhance health management. There is a high mortality rate of patients with sickle cell disease. Previous studies have indicated that some medicinal plants have shown anti-sickling activity, indicating a new therapeutic approach to manage people affected by this hemoglobinopathy. This study aimed to assess the in vitro anti-sickling activity of Adansonia digitata extract on sickle cells.

Materials and Methods: Blood samples used in the evaluation of the anti-sickling activity of Adansonia digitata fruits extract in this study was taken from patients known to have sickle cell disease (HB SS) attending the Sickle Cell Clinic in Khartoum state. The Emmel test was used to assess the anti-sickling activities of the plants.

Results: A significant increase in the percentage of unsickled red blood cells (p > 0.05) was observed after incubating red blood cells (RBCs) with 2% sodium metabisulfite in the presence of 1,000, 500 and 250 μg/mL Adansonia digitata methanol extract.

Conclusion: This study approved that Adansonia digitata fruits extract had a strong anti-sickling activity so it may be used for management of sickle cell disease due to its great amount of phenoland flavonoid.