Journal of Life Medicine JLM JLM Volume 2, Issue 1 January 2014 PP. 25-31 www.vkingpub.com/journal/jlm/ © American V-King Scientific Publishing 25 Antisickling Activity and Physico-chemical Stability of Anthocyanin Extracts from Ipomoea Batatas Leaves PT Mpiana *1 , FM Misakabu 2 , PM Yuma 3 , DST Tshibangu 1 , KN Ngbolua 1 , CL Mwanyishay 1 NM Misengabu 4 , ZB Gbolo 1 and JS Kayembe 1 1 Faculté des Sciences B.P. 190, Université de Kinshasa, Kinshasa XI, R.D. Congo 2 Faculté des Sciences et Sciences Appliquées B.P.570, Université Officielle de Bukavu, R.D.Congo 3 Département de Chimie, Faculté des Sciences, Université de Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, R.D. Congo 4 Institut des Recherches en Sciences de la Santé (IRSS), Kinshasa, R.D. Congo *1 ptmpiana@yahoo.fr Abstract- Sickle cell anemia is the most prevalent inherited blood disorder for which there is no cure. The use of medicinal plants and nutraceuticals in the management of this hemoglobinopathy that affects mainly poor African population is gaining increasing attention. The antisickling activity of Ipomoea batatas leaves, an edible plant widely used against sickle cell disease in Congolese traditional medicine, was evaluated through an in vitro bioassay using the Emmel test. The results showed a significant antisikling activity, thus justifying the use of this plant by traditional healers in the management of sickle cell disease. The biological activity of the leaves of Ipomoea batatas would be due to anthocyanins which are particularly abundant in this aliment. The anthocyanin extracts displayed instability towards physico-chemical parameters such as heat, light and pH. The kinetics of anthocyanin extracts thermo- degradation gave the constants rate values of 28.10 -3 s -1 and 51.10 -3 s -1 respectively at 100 and 120°C. The anthocyanins spectra are also strongly modified by UV-visible and pH. So, Ipomoae batatas known for its nutritional and therapeutic potentials also has antisickling effect. It could be used as nutraceuticals source in the management of sickle cell disease. But leaves of this edible plant must not be overcooked or exposed to the sunlight for a too long time. Keywords- Ipomoea Batatas; Antisickling Activity; Anthocyanin; Thermodegradation; Photodegradation I. INTRODUCTION Sickle cell disease (SCD) or sickling anemia is a genetic and hereditary disease due to abnormal hemoglobin, hemoglobin S. It is a hemoglobinopathy caused by the replacement of glutanic acid residue located in the sixth position of hemoglobin β chain by valine one. This amino acid substitution alters not only the affinity of hemoglobin toward oxygen but also its solubility under low oxygen pressure conditions. The solubility’s decrease causes the hemoglobin polymerization and the sickling of red blood cells, which induce painful vaso-occlusive crises, chronic hemolytic anemia and other sicklers’ problems [1-4] . Sickle cell disease affects worldwide more than 50 million people. Each year about 300,000 children are born with pathological hemoglobin of which 70% are affected by SCD. This disease particularly affects tropical regions. In certain African regions, carriers of S hemoglobin can reach 20% of the population with a prevalence of 25-30% in central Africa. In Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), more than one million of inhabitants or almost 2% of the population are affected by this chronic disease [2,4,5] . To relieve patients from this scourge, several therapeutics approaches were proposed. These include bone marrow transplantation, repeated blood transfusion, the use of hydroxyurea etc. Unfortunately, not only these treatments were ineffective, they are also expensive for the poor African population and may present HIV / AIDS infection risk [6-8] . Alternative strategy in the management of SCD is now focusing on the identification of the novel antisickling agents mainly that from medicinal plants. Indeed, traditional medicine continues to play a very significant role in the medical primary health care implementation in developing countries [9-13] . Recently our research team shows that many medicinal plants used in traditional medicine in DRC to manage SCD had in vitro antisickling activity and that this activity is mainly due to anthocyanins [14-23] . As several other flavonoids, anthocyanins are powerful free radical scavengers and show antioxidant activity responsible of their pharmacological action against cancer, diabetes etc. But unfortunately, these pigments are unstable toward some physico-chemical parameters such as temperature, pH and light [15,20,23-25] . Ipomoea batatas is one of the plants most consumed worldwide especially for its succulent tubers "sweet pototoes" where anthocyanins have been isolated [25,26] . Sweet potato leaves are consumed as a leafy vegetable in many parts of the world, and can be harvested many times during a season [26,27] . In DRC, apart from their use as vegetable, I. batatas leaves are also used in traditional medicine against SCD. The aim of this study is to verify in vitro the antisickling activity of the sweet potatoes leaves and to