Abstract

To study the capacity of antimalarial drugs to interfere with polymerization of sickle cell haemoglobin (HbS), in vitro polymerization was induced by incubating erythrocyte haemolysate of HbS with 2 g% sodium metabisulphite (Na₂S₂O₅) in the presence of 2 mg% concentration of three (3) separate antimalarial drugs (Coartem^TM, Quinine, and Chloroquine phosphate). Spectrophotometric method was used to ascertain the level of polymerization of HbS at a regular interval of 30 seconds for a period of 180 seconds at extinction coefficient (λmax) of 700nm. The level of polymerization was expressed in percentage of the absorbance of control sample at the 180^th second. The three antimalarial drugs caused significant (p<0.05) reduction in HbS polymerization in the following ranges: Coartem^TM (17.05-31.07%), Quinine (13.95-28.85%) and Chloroquine phosphate (10.85-33.01%). These results indicated the feasibility of the three drugs to retard HbS polymerization and as apparent potential candidates for therapy and management of sickle cell disease.

Key words: Anti-malarial drugs, polymerization, sickle cell, haemoglobin, sodium metabisulphite.