Effects of aqueous extracts of Garcinia kola seeds on membrane stability of HbAA, HbAS and HbSS human erythrocytes

The effects of water-extract of the seed of Garcinia kola (Henckel), a popularly consumed seed known as ‘bitter kola' in Nigeria, on the stabilities of erythrocyte membranes from HbAA, HbAS and HbSS blood donors were determined. The median corpuscular fragility (MCF) of erythrocytes from the three genotypes were 3.6 + 0.1, 3.4 + 0.1 and 2.8 + 0.2, expressed in [NaCl] g/l for HbAA, HbAS and HbSS, respectively. The aqueous extract from G. kola seeds stabilized the membranes from HbAA, HbAS and HbSS erythrocytes by 22, 17 and 25% respectively. Phenylalanine, a known anti-sickling agent, stabilized the HbSS membrane by 17.85%. Viscosity studies indicated that the HbSS blood was more viscous and the aqueous extract from G. kola seeds decreased the viscosity of the HbSS blood, producing a statistically different (