Nwaoguikpe RN and Braide W
The antisickling effectiveness of crude aqueous ext ract of three mineral elements: Copper, Zinc and Magnesium were investigated to ascertain the abilit y of the ions to inhibit sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization process. Also assayed with the minera l elements were two fat –soluble vitamins-( vitamins A & E and one water-soluble-vitamin C. T he mineral samples were dissolved in distilled water to a final assay concentration of 1.0x10- 1 mM. The fat-soluble vitamins were dissolved in ethanol of analytical grade to a final assay concen tration of 100 IU for vitamin A and 1 mg/ml for eac h of vitamins C and E respectively. Zinc exhibited th e highest level of relative percent inhibition of 8 9.69 ± 0.1 %, followed by Magnesium (48.40±0.02%), while Copper enhanced sickle cell hemoglobin polymerization with relative percent inhibition of - 1921±0.2 % or an enhancement of (1921±0.2 %). Among the vitamins, vitamin C exhibited the highest level of relative percent inhibition of 38.14 ±0.2 %, followed by both vitamins A and E, with relative percent inhibitions of 30.93±0.10 % respectively. For the Fe 2+ /Fe 3+ ratio analysis ,the mineral elements Zinc and Mg, improved the ratio to varying levels (Zn, 16.21%; Mg,2.63 %).The ratio was highly reduce d by Copper (69.11±0.1 %).The vitamins improved the ratio remarkably as shown in the sequence: vita min C (10.00±0.0%);vitamin E (40.85±0.2%) and Vitamin A(24.48±0.2%) . The results revealed the nu tritional and therapeutic relevance of these antioxidant minerals and vitamins in the management of sickle cell disease and other syndromes exhibiting similar etiology.
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