In vitro antisickling effect of crude stem extract of Ficus sycomorus on human sickled red blood cells

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 2 , 117 - 122 , 15.08.2025

Kamaludden Aliyu , Maryam Ahmed , Barakat Abdullahi , Idongesit Etuk

https://izlik.org/JA36ZG55MB

Abstract

Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. The ficus sycomorus is used in Burkina Faso folk medicine for the management of sickle disease. This study was aimed at investigating the antisickling property of Methanolic and aqueous extract of ficus sycomorus. Phytochemistry was conducted using a standard method. For the antisickling test, 2% sodium metabisulphite was used to induced sickling in HbSS blood. Plant extract was added after 60minutes of incubation. Every 30minutes for a period of 60minutes (0min, 30min, and 60min), a drop of the prepared solution was observed at (40x)mg and percentage of reversion was calculated. The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloid, tannins, polyphenols and flavonoids in the extract. In Methanolic extract, at 0.1mg/ml, the percentage of sickled red blood cells (RBCs) is 80.00±0.414 at 0min, 79.00±0.414 at 30min and 50.000±0.414 at 60min. At 0.3mg/ml, the percentage of sickled RBCs is 75.000±0.000 at 0min, 49.000±0.414 at 30min and 19.500±0.707. At 0.5mg/ml the percentage of sickled RBCs is 60.000±0.243 at 0min, 58.500±0.121 at 30min and 40.000±0.707 at 60min. while in aqueous extract, at 0.1mg/ml, the percentage of sickled RBCs is 89.00±0.414 at 0min, 70.00±0.414 at 30min and 64.000±0.414 at 60min. At 0.3mg/ml, the percentage of sickled RBCs is 66.000±0.536 at 0min, 51.000±0.828at 30min and 18.000±0.414. At 0.5mg/ml the percentage of sickled RBCs is 44.000±0.414 at 0min, 30.000±0.000 at 30min and 10.000±0.121 at 60min. extract of ficus sycomorus have shown to be therapeutically effective in the management of sickle cell anemia.

Keywords

sickle cell disease , phytochemicals , ficus sycomorus , anemia

Project Number

KASU/18/BCH/1129

References

• 1. Ambroise, W., et al., FLT1 and other candidatefetal haemoglobin modifying loci in sickle cell disease in African ancestries. The journal of nature communication, 2025. 16 (1) p. 42-47. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-02557413-5
• 2. Emmanuel, U., et al., Phytochemistry, Mineral Estimation, Nutritional, and the In Vitro Anti-Sickling Potentials of Oil Extracted from the Seeds of Mucuna Flagellipes. Journal of the Mexican chemicals society, 2024. 68(2) p. 220-233. https://doi.org/10.29356/jmcs.v68i2.1898
• 3. Xiang, Y., et al., Secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity of different parts from the medicinal and edible alpiniae oxyphylla Miq. Journal of Functional Foods, 2025. 128 (106803) p. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jff.2025.106803
• 4. M. O. Salawu, I. O. Abdulsalam and H. O. B. Oloyede, In vitro study of anti-sickling effects of aqueous extracts of Garcinia kola (seeds), Zingiber officinale (rhizomes) and Allium sativum (bulbs) on sodium metabisulphite-treated HBSS erythrocytes. National Library of Medicine, 2025. 25(241) p.23-30. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12906-025-04943-6
• 5. Food and drugs administration (FDA), 2023
• 6. Dessy, A., Extraction techniques and optimization strategies for phytochemicals from Annona muricata leaf: A comprehensive review. International journal of Agriculture and Biology, 2025. 34(1), p. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.17957/IJAB/15.2337
• 7. Wang, Y., et al., Computational chemistry strategies to investigate the antioxidant activity of flavonoids. MDPI, 2024. 29(11) p. 26-27. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29112627
• 8. Tiwari, A., et al., Marine-Derived Natural Flavonoids and Their Biological Activities, Nutraceutical in Cardiac Health Management, 2025. 1(15) p. 311-325. ISBN: 9781003545644
• 9. Jonani B, et al., Prevalence of sickle cell anemia in Africa : A protocol for a meta-analysis of existing studies, PLOS Journal, 2025, 20 (4). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0321535
• 10. Julia, B. et al., Current and future treament for sickle cell disease: From hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to in vivo gene therapy, journal of molecular therapy, 2025, 33(07): p.2172-2191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.03.016
• 11. Julia, B. et al., Current and future treament for sickle cell disease: From hematopoietic stem cell transplantation to in vivo gene therapy, journal of molecular therapy, 2025, 33(07): p.2172-2191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymthe.2025.03.016
• 12. Muhammad M.D, AbdulAzeez M.A, and Susan P.A. Phytochemical Analysis and Antibacterial Activity of Methanol and Ethyl Acetate Extracts of Detarium microcarpum Guill & Perr. Biology, Medicine & Natural product chemistry ISSN 2086-6514 (paper) Volume 12, Number 1, 2023 p281-288. https://doi.org/10.14421/biomedich.2023.121.281-288
• 13. Munung, N.S. et al., Looking ahead: ethical and social challenges of somatic gene therapy for sickle cell disease in Africa, Journal of gene therapy, November 2023, 31(1) p 202-208. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41434-023-00429-7
• 14. Messaoudi, M., et al.,Phytochemical screening, polyphenols content and antioxidant activities of some selected medicinal plants growing in Algeria, Journal of Natural Resource and Sustainable Development, 2025 15(1) p. 189-202. https://doi:10.31924/nrsd.vl5il.185
• 15. A Ibrahim and SA Muhammad Antioxidant-rich nutraceuticals as a therapeutic strategy for sickle cell disease, Journal of the American nutrition association, 2023. 42(6), p. 588-597. https://doi.org/10.1080/27697061.2022.2108930
• 16. OO Oguntibeju, T oduola, and GM Davison. Investigation of haematological, inflammatory parameters and the incidence of alloimunization in multi-transfused sickle cell disease patient. 2023, 120-126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.htct.2025.103937
• 17. Camila, A., et al., Unlocking the power of polyphenols: A promising biomarker of improved metabolic health and anti-inflammatory diet in adolescents. Journal of Clinical nutrition, 2024. 43(8), p. 1865-1871. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2024.06.023
• 18. Sadgrove, N.J et al., An overview of the phytochemistry of medicinal bark (trunk, stem or root) from the most popular southern African species, Phytochemistry review. 2025 1(3) p. 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11101-024-10059-5
• 19. J.S. Gibson, and Rees, D.C. Emmerging drug targets for sickle cell disease: shedding light on new knowledge and advances at the molecular level, Expert opinion on therapeutic targets, 2023. 27(2) p. 133-149. https://doi.org/10.1080/14728222.2023.2179484
• 20. S.A. Ayuba, and A. Onu, Phytochemical Analysis and Antisickling activity of some medicinal plants from Sokoto, Nigeria, UMYU Scientifica, 2024 3(3). https://doi.org/10.56919/usci.2433.015
• 21. Traets M, et al., Pyruvate kinase function correlates with red blood cell properties and clinical manifestations in sickle cell disease, American Journal of Hematology, 2025, 100(5) p. 785-796. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajh.27644
• 22. Utami I., et al., Antioxidant activity of ethanol extract of papaya leaves (Carica papaya L.) on reducing blood glucose levels of streptozotocin induced male rats. Journal Eduhealth Volume 15, Number 02, 2024, https://doi.org/10.54209/eduhealth.v15i02.
• 23. Soyeng, W. and Kwon, K.H. Green Technology for Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Edible Plants, Journal of Oleo Science, 2024 73(10), p. 1249-1265. https://doi.org/10.5650/jos.ess24162