Evaluation of the Anti-Sickle Cell Activity of Uvaria Chamea P. Beauv. Roots Aqueous Extract

Sickle cell disease was a very common hemoglobinosis in tropical countries. Several plants were used in traditional Beninese medicine to relieve sickle cell crises. The present work was carried out to test the efficiency of Uvaria chamea roots aqueous extract in the treatment of sickle cell crises.

Methods: Uvaria chamea roots aqueous extract was preincubated at different concentrations with blood cells from SS red blood cells before or after the Emmel Test. Intra-erythrocyte oxidative stress was measured by methaemoglobin assay after incubation of the extract with hemoglobin. In vivo, the action of the extract on Hemoglobin level, Mean Corpuscular Volume, and platelet count was measured in Wistar rats.

Results: The extract significantly prevented the formation of sickle cells at doses of 40 and 20 mg / ml of blood (P <0.05) and significantly reduced sickle cells to the normal biconcave form at the dose of 40 mg / ml (P <0.05). It lowered the production of methemoglobin at a dose of 10 mg / ml, suggesting antioxidant activity. Hemoglobin level, Mean Corpuscular Volume, and platelet count did not significantly increase in treated rats, indicating that the extract did not stimulate erythropoiesis or thrombopoiesis.

Conclusion: Uvaria chamea extract inhibited dose-dependent sickling of red blood cells. It reduced intraerythrocyte oxidative stress but did not show hematopoietic activity. It could therefore be considered in the preventive or curative management of sickle cell crises, but not against anemia.