Decreased thrombin activity by a Congolese herbal medicine used in sickle cell anemia

Aqueous extracts from Ceiba pentandra (Malvaceae/Bombacoideae) and Quassia africana (Simaroubaceae) are used as crude medicines for the management of sickle cell anemia (SCA) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). Since it is postulated that the pathogenesis of SCA is associated with an increased blood coagulation activity, the present study is conducted to determine the effect of the two extracts on the coagulation by assessing the thrombin activity and the plasma clotting time.

Thrombin activity was measured by chromogenic assay in the presence of the aqueous extracts (10, 100 or 200 µg/ml); and plasma clotting times were measured by activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and prothrombin time (PT) in the presence of C. pentandra (10, 100 or 200 µg/ml) and Q. africana (5, 20 or 50 µg/ml).

Reduced thrombin activity and prolonged plasma clotting time measured by APTT were observed in the presence of C. pentandra extract only. However, plasma clotting time measured by PT was not modified by the use of the two extracts.

This study suggests that the aqueous extract of C. pentandra may contain active components that reduce the thrombin activity and prolong the plasma clotting time by affecting the coagulation intrinsic pathway.