In Vitro Assessment of the Hemolytic Potential of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus (L.) D.C. in Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficient Filipino Neonatal Blood

Abstract

In the Philippines, an estimated 1 in 60 are affected with glucose-6-phospate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency. This deficiency may lead to hemolytic anemia when exposed to certain oxidative food or drugs. Favism is a hemolytic anemia triggered by ingestion of Vicia faba experienced by some individuals with G6PD deficiency. This study aims to assess the in vitro hemolytic effect of Psophocarpus tetragonolobus, a close relative of V. faba, on the erythrocytes of G6PD-deficient Filipino neonates. Along with normal controls, in vitro digested P. tetragonolobus solutions (PTS), at 0.05 and 0.10 mg/mL, were incubated with G6PD-deficient blood samples. After incubation, the erythrocyte suspensions were centrifuged and hemolysis was spectrophotometrically measured. Results show that in vitro, PTS can precipitate very minimal hemolysis in neonatal blood samples with and without G6PD deficiency. Hemolysis was found to be dependent on the extent of G6PD activity at the higher concentration of the PTS tested. However, hemolysis was not concentration-dependent regardless of the extent of G6PD deficiency (classified as severe, intermediate, mild and normal). The minimal ability of P. tetragonolobus to induce hemolysis may be due to the presence of one or more antioxidant compounds which were found to be present in the digested extracts based on phytochemical analysis.