Determination of the potentials of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of Buchholzia coriacea in preventing sodium metabisulphite-induced oxidation of some hemoglobin SS erythrocyte membrane proteins

BACKGROUND: The sustenance of the erythrocyte membrane integrity is crucial to ensuring a continuous lamina flow of erythrocytes through narrow blood vessels. So it is imperative to find a substance to attenuate the oxidation of erythrocytes that cause the membrane structure remodelling. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the hydrating strength and modulatory effect of Buchholzia coriacea seed extracts on erythrocyte membrane proteins degradation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Aqueous and ethanolic extracts of B. coriacea were obtained following standard procedures. Blood samples (5.00 mL) from five known hemoglobin SS individuals in steady state were subjected to electrophoresis to establish the genotype of the individuals. The osmotic fragility assay was performed with 2.50, 5.00, 10.00 and 20.00 mg/mL of the extracts in the presence of different concentrations of phosphate-buffered saline. The graph of percentage hemolysis was plotted against saline concentration, and the mean corpuscular fragility (MCF) determined. Sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was also done using the same concentrations of extracts. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant difference (P > 0.01) between the average MCF in all the extract concentration and the control. Protein 4.1 and Ankyrin did not appear on the electrophoretic lanes of all the test samples when compared with the control. However, spectrin and ankyrin bands were visible with regular size and intensity. CONCLUSION: B. coriacea seed extracts possess antihemolytic character. However, it does not have the ability to maintain the erythrocyte membrane model despite its acclaimed antioxidant character.