INVITRO MEMBRANE PROTECTION EFFECT OF AGERATUM CONYZOIDES METHANOLIC EXTRACT ON HUMAN SICKLED CELLS

Hemolytic anemia caused by membrane damage is the major objective of treating sickle cell anemia in both mainstream and alternative medicine, which is a characteristic hallmark of the disease.One plant that is reportedly utilized in traditional medicine to treat sickle cell anemia is ageratum conyzoides.  Prelimnary phytochemical investigation were carried out  according to the standard protocols. In vitro spectrophotometric analysis was used to assess the methanolic extract of A. conyzoides' capacity to shield sickle red blood cells from lysis.  Preliminary phytochemical screening of crude extracts of leaf, stem and root of Ageratum conyzoides tested positive for the presence of phytochemicals such as alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycosides, saponins, steroids and triterpenes. The leaf extract caused significant (P<0.05) membrane protection with the value of 24.13±0.47% at 2.5mg/ml concentration, while the stem extract produced a significant (P<0.05) protective effect with the value of  29.13±0.47% at 2.5mg/ml.The root also gave a significant (P<0.05)  membrane protective effect  of 40.73±1.04%  at 2.5mg/ml. These finding clearly support the traditional usage of A. conyzoides in the management of sickle cell anemia by demonstrating the functions that the plant's leaves, stem, and roots play in membrane protection.