Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, 410001, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria; Department of Chemistry, School of Sciences, Shalom Science and Technology Academy, Enugu State, Nigeria.
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Nigeria, 410001, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
J Ethnopharmacol. 2024 Sep 15;331:118280. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118280. Epub 2024 May 5.
ETHNO-PHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Globally, the prevalence of sickle cell disease is on the rise, with developing countries experiencing particularly alarming mortality rate compared to developed nations. The World Health Organization (WHO) and United Nations (UN) have acknowledged sickle cell disease as a significant global public health concern. Unfortunately, a cure for this condition is yet to be discovered, and existing allopathic treatments, while offering relief, come with serious side effects. In recent times, there has been a growing interest in exploring the potential of medicinal plants for treating sickle cell disease due to their content of secondary metabolites that may impact the disease's mechanisms. Cajanus cajan, a crucial grain legume in rain-fed agriculture in semi-arid tropics, has been traditionally used in folk medicine to manage various illnesses and is suggested to possess anti-sickling properties.
The present study investigated two varieties of C. cajan for their effectiveness in treating sickle cell beta thalassemia, a variant of sickle cell disease.
The study was divided into four groups consisting of the untreated group (group 1), group treated with standard drug (group 2), group treated with white C. cajan (group 3) and group treated with brown C. cajan (group 4). The effects of the two variety of C. cajan were measured by polymerization test, reversibility test, osmotic fragility test, deoxygenation and beta globin synthesis test.
The results revealed that both varieties of C. cajan demonstrated a reduction in polymerization rates, reversed sickled red blood cells, increased the oxygen affinity of Hb-S/β, elevated the Fe/Fe ratio, and maintained the membrane stability of red blood cells. Notably, the white variety exhibited superior anti-sickling properties compared to the brown variety.
This suggests that this significant leguminous crop could be utilized for the treatment and management of sickling disorders, particularly in low-income countries where conventional treatments may be financially inaccessible to patients.
在全球范围内，镰状细胞病的患病率呈上升趋势，发展中国家的死亡率与发达国家相比尤其令人震惊。世界卫生组织（WHO）和联合国（UN）已经将镰状细胞病视为一个重大的全球公共卫生关注问题。不幸的是，这种疾病仍然没有治愈方法，现有的对抗疗法虽然可以缓解症状，但也存在严重的副作用。最近，由于药用植物的次生代谢产物可能影响疾病的机制，人们对探索其治疗镰状细胞病的潜力产生了浓厚的兴趣。在半干旱热带地区雨养农业中，菜豆是一种重要的粮食豆类，传统上用于民间医学来治疗各种疾病，并被认为具有抗镰变特性。
本研究调查了两种菜豆品种对治疗镰状细胞β地中海贫血（镰状细胞病的一种变体）的效果。
该研究分为四组，未治疗组（第 1 组）、标准药物治疗组（第 2 组）、白菜豆治疗组（第 3 组）和棕菜豆治疗组（第 4 组）。通过聚合试验、逆转试验、渗透脆性试验、脱氧和β珠蛋白合成试验来测量两种菜豆品种的效果。
结果表明，两种菜豆品种均能降低聚合率、逆转镰状红细胞、增加 Hb-S/β的氧亲和力、提高 Fe/Fe 比值、维持红细胞膜稳定性。值得注意的是，白菜豆品种表现出比棕菜豆品种更好的抗镰变特性。
这表明这种重要的豆科作物可用于治疗和管理镰状细胞疾病，特别是在低收入国家，传统治疗可能对患者来说无法负担。
