Abstract

The influence of Raphia hookeri palm sap as an antipolymerization agent of sickle cell haemoglobin (HbSS) and its effect on the osmotic fragility of sickle cell anaemia (SCA) red blood cells (RBC’s), in vitro, were investigated. Phytochemicals detected in the palm sap included tannins, flavonoids, saponins, thiocyanates, cyanogenic glycosides, alkaloids and catechins. The chemical constituents included 4-hydroxybenzoic acid (4-HBA), vitamin C, free amino acids and monosaccharides. The levels (in g/ 100 g protein) of four antipolymerization/ antisickling amino acids in the palm sap were phenylalanine (4.20±0.07), leucine (2.05±0.07), arginine (3.22±0.08) and valine (4.38±0.09). Minerals evaluated were in parts per million (ppm) in the palm sap included potassium ion (K⁺) (18.00), sodium ion (Na⁺) (26.00), magnesium (II) ion (Mg²⁺) (19.20), calcium (II) ion (Ca²⁺) (101.20), ion (II) ion (Fe²⁺) (26.00) and zinc (II) ion (Zn²⁺) (16.80). The palm sap inhibited the polymerization of HbSS and reduced the osmotic lyses of its erythrocytes, in vitro. The bioactive antipolymerization agents detected in it were 4-HBA, flavonoids, thiocyanates and amino acids like phenylalanine, leucine, arginine and valine. In conclusion, the study established the antipolymerization potential of R. hookeri sap, established that it reduced osmotic lyses of SCA RBC’s and identified the bioactive agents in the palm sap.

Key words: Antipolymerization, fragility, Raphia hookeri sap, sickle cell.