Proximate analysis, phytochemical content and the antioxidant effect of Moringa oleifera leaf methanol extract in sickle cell disease management

The proximate analysis, phytochemical and antioxidant effect of Moringa oleifera leaf methanol extract were investigated and their effects on sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization observed. Moringa oleifera leaf was sourced from a horticulturist in a horticulture garden along Okigwe road in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. The voucher specimen for Moringa oleifera was identified, classified and authenticated by a professional taxonomist at the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Imo State University Owerri, Imo State. The sample was first dried at room temperature to constant weight, ground into powder and soaked in methanol for 24 hours to obtain the methanol soluble fraction. Amino acid composition was determined for the sample, using gas chromatography which revealed a preponderance of both essential and non-essential amino acids of which some were antisickling amino acids of varying concentrations. All values were expressed in g/100 g of sample. The identified amino acids include: Phenylalanine, Histidine, Leucine, Lysine, Tryptophan, Isoleucine, Valine, Methionine, Proline, Arginine, Tyrosine, Serine and others. The different concentration of Moringa oleifera leaf methanol extracts were able to inhibit HbSS polymerization at varying degrees, when compare to the normal control and Ciklavit^TM, which was used as a standard. The results of the percentage polymerization inhibition showed that 100 mg/dose, 200 mg/dose and 400 mg/dose of a Moringa oleifera leaf methanol extracts inhibited sickle cell polymerization by 53.09 ± 1.00, 53.09 ± 1.02 and 50.62 ± 0.66 respectively. Moringa oleifera leaf methanol extracts is nutritionally rich in both essential and non-essential amino acids, phytochemicals and antioxidants enzymes and vitamins, that may possess anti-oxidative properties that may have contributed in no small measure to the high antisickling profile of the extract especially in terms of maintaining a healthy Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and reduction in hemoglobin polymerization from 61.73 % (Ciklavit^TM) standard to 46.9185 % (100 mg/dose) Moringa oleifera leaf methanol extracts. Moringa oleifera leaf should be employed in the management of sickle cell disease and other related diseases like anemia and thalassemia.