Inhibitory and Reversal Effects of Extracts and Fractions of Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & Perr. on Sodium Metabisulphite-induced Polymerization of Sickle Cell Haemoglobin

Background: The leaves and stem bark of Anogeissus leiocarpa (DC.) Guill. & Pirr. (Combretaceae) are commonly included in recipes used for the management of sickle cell disease in western part of Nigeria. Objective: The present study was carried out to evaluate the potential of methanol extract and various fractions of A. leiocarpa leaves and stem bark to inhibit as well as reverse sodium metabisulphite induced polymerization of sickle cell haemoglobin. Methods: The modified Emmel test was used to evaluate the inhibitory activity and the reversal effects of the extracts and fractions of both the leaves and the stem bark of A. leiocarpa in vitro. Results: Both the leaves and the stem bark extracts of A. leiocarpa were effective at inhibiting as well as reversing sodium metabisulphite induced polymerization of sickle cell haemoglobin, though the activity was higher in the leaves (94.52 ± 0.80% and 95.67 ± 0.67% respectively) when compared with the stem bark (51.79 ± 2.46 % and 50.45 ± 3.18 % respectively). The ethyl acetate fraction of both leaves and stem bark also gave good activities in both test methods with percentage reversal of 82.74 ± 1.82% and 67.63 ± 2.18% respectively. Conclusion: A. leiocarpa extracts and ethyl acetate fractions exhibit good inhibition and reversal of sodium metabisulphite–induced polymerization of sickle cell haemoglobin thus justifying its inclusion in remedies used for the traditional management of sickle cell.