What is it about?
Anaemia is the most common disease that affects mostly females and children and is most prevalent in developing countries. Among various causes sickle cell anaemia is one of them, which is a cause of concern. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) causes problems like blockage of blood flow, causing pain, and fatigue and also leads to death. As current therapies for the treatment of sickle cell anaemia are limited, like blood transfusions, bone marrow transfusions, etc., a non-surgical method where plant extracts or compounds were found effective in stopping, preventing, and in some cases reversal of Sickle Cell Disease. A total of more than 50 medicinal plants like Acacia catechu, Alchornea cordifolia, Anchomanes difformis, Khayase negalensis, Terminalia catappa, etc., have been identified based on their potential against Sickle cell Disease, and 15 compounds such as Butylurea, Glyceraldehyde, Potassium cyanate, urea, etc., have also been identified which could work against SCD. These plants acting on sickle cell anemia on various pathways are also discussed. An approach was made to study those plants which have an effect against SCD, with proper mechanisms and compounds that show potency against this disease. So that better treatment options could be available for future generations.
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Why is it important?
Sickle cell anemia is one of a group of inherited disorders known as sickle cell disease. It affects the shape of red blood cells, which carry oxygen to all parts of the body. Red blood cells are usually round and flexible, so they move easily through blood vessels. In sickle cell anemia, some red blood cells are shaped like sickles or crescent moons. These sickle cells also become rigid and sticky, which can slow or block blood flow.
Perspectives
Anaemia is a serious cause of concern as it causes a lot of deaths globally, and in which sickle cell disease is one of the main reasons. As the goal of the pharmacotherapy is to reduce and prevent the complications in sickle cell disease. As herbal drugs have fewer adverse effects, that is why emphasis is put on herbal drugs, since traditionally these drugs were used in various therapies like ayurveda, traditional chinese medicine, homeopathy, etc., when scientifically explored, these plants showed optimum results, not just only the plants but the compounds isolated from these plants.
Rishabh Chalotra
Central University of Punjab
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Traditional Drugs Originating from Selected Medicinal Plants: An Intervention
for Anaemia, Current Traditional Medicine, December 2023, Bentham Science Publishers,
DOI: 10.2174/2215083809666230105161143.
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