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DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960044
© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York
The in vitro Effects of Griffonin and Ouabain on Erythrocyte Sodium Content Obtained from Normal Subjects and Sickle Cell Patients
Publication History
1990
Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

Abstract
The in vitro effects of griffonin and ouabain on erythrocyte sodium content have been investigated in 6 normal subjects and 6 sickle cell patients. Intracellular sodium contents of normal or sickle cells incubated for 8 h in tris buffer, griffonin/tris buffer, or ouabain/tris buffer were determined. Incubation of normal cells in tris buffer or 0.5 mmol/l griffonin had little effect on the cell sodium content. However, 1.0 mmol/l griffonin/tris buffer raised the cell sodium level (P < 0.05) over the incubation period. Ouabain/tris buffer (0.5 mmol/l or 1.0 mmol/1) also raised the sodium content (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Incubation of sickle cells in tris buffer raised the cell sodium (P < 0.05) as did 0.5 mmol/l or 1.0 mmol/l griffonin (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001). Ouabain/tris buffer (0.5 mmol/l or 1.0 mmol/1) raised the intra-erythrocyte sodium level (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001). These findings suggest that ouabain and griffonin both have similar actions on intra-erythrocyte sodium content although ouabain was more potent. It is suggested therefore that griffonin could be a useful anti-sickling drug for sickle cell disease crisis.
Key words
Griffonin - ouabain - sickle cell disease - anti-sickling activity - intra-erythrocyte sodium content - intracellular sodium content - Griffonia simplificolia