Mineral Content and Antisickling Activity of Annona senegalensis, Alchornea cordifolia and Vigna unguiculata Used in the Management of Sickle Cell Disease in the Kwilu Province (Congo, DR)
Jules M. Kitadi
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Clément L. Inkoto
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Emmanuel M. Lengbiye
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Damien S. T. Tshibangu
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Dorothée D. Tshilanda
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Koto-te-Nyiwa Ngbolua
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo and Department of Basic Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Gbado-Lite, B.P. 111 Gbado-Lite, Democratic Republic of Congo.
K. M. Taba
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Blaise M. Mbala
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
Brigitte Schmitz
University of Bonn, Federal Republic of Germany.
Pius T. Mpiana *
Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, B.P. 190 Kinshasa XI, Democratic Republic of Congo.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aims: To determine the mineral composition of some plants (Annona senegalensis Pers., Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll. Arg. and Vigna unguiculate (L.) Walp.) used in the management of sickle cell disease by traditional practitioners in Kwilu province and to evaluate their antisickling activity in vitro.
Study Design: Plant collection in the Kwilu province, sample preparation, antisickling tests and fluorescence spectrometric analysis.
Place and Duration of Study: This work was performed at the Faculty of Science, University of Kinshasa, Congo DR, from October 2016 to January 2018.
Methodology: These three plants were harvested in the province of Kwilu in Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mineral composition analysis was carried out using the fluorescence spectrometric method while the in vitro antisickling activity was evaluate using Emmel and hemolysis tests.
Results: Twenty three mineral elements were identified in each of these three plants: Potassium (K), Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Sulphur (S), Chlorine (Cl) and trace elements as: Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Brome (Br), Molybdenum (Mo), Tin (Sn), Iodine (I), Barium (Ba) and Lead (Pb). Annona senegalensis Pers., Alchornea cordifolia (Schumach. & Thonn.) Müll.Arg. and Vigna unguiculate (L.) Walp. aqueous extracts showed the capacity to prevent the sickling and the hemolysis of red blood cells.
Conclusion: The obtained results confirm the antisickling activity thus justifying the use of these plants in Traditional Medicine for the management of sickle cell disease. The presence of some mineral elements like Fe, Zn, Mg and Se are useful for sickle cell disease patients.
Keywords: Annona senegalensis, Alchornea cordifolia, Vigna unguiculata, sickle cell disease, mineral elements, fluorescence, antisickling