Sickled Erythrocytes Reversal and Membrane Stabilizing Compounds inTelfairia occidentalis

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Traditional management of sickle cell disease (SCD) is ubiquitous in Africa. In south-eastern Nigeria, Telfairia occidentalis (T. occidentalis) is strongly recommended for consumption by SCD patients, owing to its presumed therapeutic effect. This study investigates the antisickling and membrane regenerative potentials of T. occidentalis in sickled erythrocytes. Experimental Approach. Sickled erythrocytes obtained from SCD patients were treated with sodium metabisulphite (2%) to induce further sickling. Heat and hypotonic-induced lyses of red blood cells' membranes were also carried out. The RBCs were treated with varying concentration (10.0, 1.0, and 0.1 mg mL−1 and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mg mL−1, resp.) of T. occidentalis extracts as treatment regimen for in vitro antisickling and membrane stabilizing assays. Extract with peak activity was purified and reused in antisickling assay. Key Results. The antisickling activity of aqueous and methanolic extracts of leaves, seeds, and stem of Telfairia occidentalis at 10.0, 1.0, and 0.1 mg mL−1 revealed that the aqueous leaves extract (10 mg mL−1) exhibited the highest antisickling activity (64.03%) which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of the stem (47.30%) and seeds (37.50%). Partially purified fractions recorded improved antisickling effect (peak activity of 70%). Characterization (using GC-MS) of the most active fraction revealed some bioactive compounds. In the membrane stabilizing assay, methanolic and aqueous stem extracts of T. occidentalis showed the highest effect of 71.85% and 61.29%, respectively. Conclusions and Implications. The results provide scientific evidence for ethnopharmacological use of T. occidentalis in the management of SCD.

Studies on the effect of a nutritious vegetable, Telfairia occidentalis, on HbSS blood

“…Nwaoguikpe, 31 reported 75.27% and 69.63% hemoglobin polymerization inhibition of the crude aqueous and water-soluble extracts of T. occidentalis respectively using the spectrophotometric method. The reversal effects of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of TO was reported by Atabo et al 16 . The extractives used were different and the activities lower than that of the ethanol extract reported in this study.…”

“…The reversal effects of the methanol and aqueous extracts of the leaves of TO was reported by Atabo et al. 16 The extractives used were different and the activities lower than that of the ethanol extract reported in this study. The results from this study using the reversal and inhibitory antisickling model however gave much higher antisickling activities at lower concentration and indicated that the ethanol extract of TO can be used as prophylactic drug in offsetting sickling crisis as well as be administered during crisis to reduce vaso occlusion and hence pain.…”

“…The consumption of the leaf of T. occidentalis enhances various hematological parameters and therefore improves the physiological and nutritional status of its consumers. The aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaf was reported to reverse sickling with very low membrane stability property 16 . The leaves are good sources of K, Cu, Fe, and Mn; and moderate sources of Mg and Zn, which are essential in human and animal nutrition 17 .…”

“…The aqueous extract of T. occidentalis leaf was reported to reverse sickling with very low membrane stability property. 16 The leaves are good sources of K, Cu, Fe, and Mn; and moderate sources of Mg and Zn, which are essential in human and animal nutrition. 17 Total amino acid in T. occidentalis was 455.3 mg/g with total essential amino acid of 256.1 mg/g or 56.3%, showing the plant proteins to be high in essential amino acids.…”

Phytocomponents from Anacardium occidentale, Psidium guajava, and Terminalia catappa altered membrane osmotic stability of sickle erythrocytes

“…Earlier study had posited that hydrophobicity of shortchain aliphatic esters facilitated their integration into the membrane system, eliciting structural rearrangement that promoted membrane stability [77,78]. In agreement with the present results, previous findings had reported that short-chain aliphatic acids (octadecanoic acid and 16-octadecenoic acid), short-chain aliphatic esters (pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl ester, and 9-octadecadienoic acid (Z)-, 2, 3-dihydroxypropyl ester), aldehyde (α-campholene aldehyde), nitro compound (cyclohexanespiro-5′,4′-methyl-2′-phenyl-2′-oxazoline), alcohol (borneol), and aliphatic compound (α-phellandrene) in silica gel fractionated aqueous and methanol extracts of Telfairia occidentalis stabilized sickle erythrocyte membrane against osmotic stress and deterred sickling [79].…”