Sickled Erythrocytes Reversal and Membrane Stabilizing Compounds inTelfairia occidentalis

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 ofT. occidentalisin 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−1and 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 mg mL−1, resp.) ofT. occidentalisextracts as treatment regimen forin vitroantisickling 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 ofTelfairia occidentalisat 10.0, 1.0, and 0.1 mg mL−1revealed 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 ofT. occidentalisshowed the highest effect of 71.85% and 61.29%, respectively.Conclusions and Implications. The results provide scientific evidence for ethnopharmacological use ofT. occidentalisin the management of SCD.