TITLE:
Aqueous Extract of Ceiba pentandra Stimulates the Production of Fetal Hemoglobin in Sickle Cell Patients
AUTHORS:
Marie Miezi Nsimba, Magain Barihuta Mihatano, Blaise Maya Mbamu, Aline Diza Lubongo, Thoms Nzaji Kolombo, Josué Matadi Mukengeshaie, José Nzunzu Lami
KEYWORDS:
Sickle Cell Disease, Hemoglobin S, Fetal Hemoglobin, Ceiba pentandra
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.12 No.8,
August
23,
2024
ABSTRACT: Subsequent studies have demonstrated the reversed activity of the aqueous extract of Ceiba pentandra on the deformity of sickled red blood cells in hypoxia conditions. The observation which related to an in vitro study had given rise to hopes as to the management of sickle cell disease (SCD) by the use of this plant species. In this paper, the authors aimed to investigate the effect of the aqueous extract of C. pentandra on the production of fetal hemoglobin in SCD patients. The work carried out hemoglobin electrophoresis, for a period of six months, on blood samples from SCD patients who voluntarily undergone routine treatment, based on the medicinal recipe prepared from the bark of the trunk and branches of C. pentandra, in a hospital center of herbal medicines located in Kinshasa. The medicinal recipe called BEAT-SS is a patented product of the hospital center named Centre de Phytothérapie Moderne NIECA. Blood samples from patients under treatment were taken to evaluate the behavior of different forms of hemoglobin (hemoglobin S, hemoglobin F and hemoglobin A2). Agarose gel electrophoresis with integrated reading was used for the separation of the different forms of hemoglobin, as well as their dosage on each sample of sickle blood. A reduction in the proportion of hemoglobin S and an increase in the proportion of fetal hemoglobin were found in all sickle cell patients during the treatment period. This observation could affirm that the management of sickle cell patients using the recipe prepared from the aqueous extract of C. pentandra could increase the level of fetal hemoglobin in these patients.