IN VITRO ANTI-SICKLING ACTIVITY OF ARTEMISIA HERBA-ALBA ASSO (CHIH) METHANOLIC EXTRACT ON SICKLE CELL DISEASE

ABSTRACTBackground: Sickle cell disease (SCD) is caused by polymerization of abnormal hemoglobin S when oxygen tension decreases. Previous studies havebeen indicated that some medicinal plants have shown an anti-sickling activity, which indicates a new therapeutic way to a range of people who areaffected by this hemoglobinopathy. The current study aimed to assess the in vitro anti-sickling activity of Artemisia herba-alba Asso methanolic extract.Methods: The blood samples used in the evaluation of the anti-sickling activity of the plant extract in this study were taken from patients known tohave SCD, attending in the King Khaled Hospital in Majmaah. Emmel test was used to assess anti-sickling activity of this plant.Results: The normal shape of the red blood cells (RBCs) was observed after incubation of RBCs with A. herba-alba Asso extract and 2% sodiummetabisulfite as compared to control. A significant increase in the percentage of unsickled RBCs was observed after incubation of RBCs with 2%sodium metabisulfite in the presence of 500 and 1000 µg/ml of A. herba-alba Asso extract. Besides, the difference between the percentage of unsickledRBCs after 30 and 60 minutes incubation time was significant for 500 µg/ml of A. herba-alba Asso extract.Conclusion: Significant in vitro anti-sickling activity of A. herba-alba Asso extract was demonstrated in RBCs pretreated with 2% sodium metabisulfite.The results obtained in this study have shown significant in vitro anti-sickling activity of A. herba-alba Asso extract, and these findings may justify theuse of this plant in the management of SCD.Keywords: In vitro, Anti-sickling activity, Artemisia herba-alba Asso, Emmel test, Sodium metabisulfite, Percentage, Unsickled red blood cells, Sicklecell disease