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Sickle cell disease is a hemoglobinopathy. In hypoxia situation, homozygous individuals might suffer from vaso-occlusive seizures, hemolytic anemia and increased susceptibility to infections. A recipe of the leaves of Ficus carpensis, Newbouldia laevis, Carpolobia lutea and Carpolobia caudate, four plants used in the traditional treatment of sickle cell disease in the Daloa region, was the subject of this study. This investigation was initiated in order to assess sickle cell inhibitory activity of the recipe, by using Emmel’s method. The decocted (DS) and the aqueous extract (EA) of the recipe brought the residual sickle cell rate at 10 and 11% respectively. Which correspond to sickle cell inhibitory activity of 90% for the decocted (DS) and 89% for the aqueous extract (EA). These activities were higher than that of phenylalanine (83%) which is used as an antisickling amino acid reference. The chemical study of the both extracts of the recipe revealed the presence of compounds known for their anti-oxidant and anti-sickle cell activities. Those flavonoids, polyphenols and alkaloids could be partly responsible for the sickle cell inhibitory activity of the recipe. These results showed that both the extracts of the recipe had antisickling activity. The use of this recipe of four plants in the traditional treatment of sickle cell disease in the Daloa region might be justified.

Sickle cell disease is the first genetic disease in the world. Rhynchospora corymbosa and Olax subscorpioïdea are two plant species used in traditional management of sickle cell disease in the department of Korhogo. After a chemical study of the decocted and the aqueous extract of these two plants, their effect on the in vitro reversal of sickling of HbSS genotype erythrocytes, has been evaluated according to Emmel method. An abundance of alkaloids, tannins, saponins, polyterpenes and sterols was found in the decocted and aqueous extract of Rhynchospora corymbosa (DRC and MRC). As for the decocted and aqueous extract of Olax subscorpioïdea (DOSA and MOSA), polyphenols, leucoanthocyanins and flavonoids were found in addition to the chemical compounds identified in Rhynchospora corymbosa. At the concentration of 0.312 mg/mL DRC, MRC DOSA and MOSA have obtained the reversal rate of 75, 50, 80 and 80% respectively. All four extracts demonstrated activity on in vitro reversal of sickle cells. This activity could be caused by the presence of chemical groups that would be used in the treatment of several diseases because of their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Rhynchospora corymbosa and Olax subscorpioïdea are both an effect on the in vitro sickling reversal. Their use in the management of sickle cell disease in northern Côte d'Ivoire might be justified.