Antisickling and Antioxidant Effects of Diodia scandens, Cochlospermum tinctorium and Ficus exasperata Aqueous Extract

Abstract

In this study, Diodia scandens, Cochlospermum tinctorium and Ficus exasperata Plants were studied because it offer a large range of natural compounds belonging to different classes of phytochemicals. These molecules possess interesting biological activities which have attracted several researchers to their elucidation to provide knowledge that will lead to advancement in medicine.  Nigeria stands out as the most sickle cell endemic country in Africa, this is due to either ignorance or poor standard management. A large percentage of the affected ones have no access to required blood transfusion, rely on traditional phytomedicine to prevent sickling and alleviate painful crisis. Patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) have inherited genes which lead to the presence of sickle cells (drepanocytes) in their blood. The specific genetic mutation that results in sickle hemoglobin involves a substitution of thymine for adenine (from GAG to GTG) on the sixth codon of the genetic sequence. This leads to the coding of valine rather than glutamate on the sixth position of the hemoglobin beta chain. This study was designed to identify the bioactive constituents present in Diodia scandens and its possibility of synergism for antisickling and antioxidant activities, which could be beneficial to SCD patients when administered.