Mineral Element Contents and Antisickling Activity of Cyttaranthus congolensis and Hypoxis angustifolia Traditionally Used to Treat Sickle Cell Disease in Kwilu Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo

The objective of the present study was to determine the composition in mineral elements, the antisickling activity and the osmotic brittleness test, of the twenty three extracts of two plants Cyttaranthus congolensis, Hypoxis angustifolia used in the management of sickle cell disease by the traditional healers in Kwilu province.  Mineral composition analyses of these two plants were performed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometric method. Twenty three( 23) mineral elements were identified in each of these two plants among others: Potassium (K), Phosphorus (P), Calcium (Ca), Sodium (Na), Magnesium (Mg), Sulfur (S), Chlorine (Cl) and trace elements such as: Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Bromine (Br), Molybdenum (Mo), Tin (Sn), Iodine (I), Barium (Ba) and Lead (Pb). Mineral elements related to sickle cell disease are: Iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Selenium (Se), Copper (Cu), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg) and Manganese (Mn). Of all these elements, Potassium and Calcium are in higher content while Lead, Tin, Bromine, Copper and Nickel are in trace amounts. The antisickling activity of Cyttaranthus congolensis and Hypoxis angustifolia extracts, was tested using the Emmel test. The results obtained showed a significant in vitro antisickling activity for both plants. The osmotic fragility test used to confirm the Emmel test showed that the hemolysis rate decreased with increasing NaCl concentration. In the presence of anthocyanins, the antihemolytic activity at different NaCl concentrations was higher than the control. This indicates the action of the extracts of these plants on the osmotic fragility of red blood cell membrane.