Bio-accessibility of iron and copper from seven Kenyan anti-anaemia medicinal plants

Anaemia is a blood disorder which is widespread among populations of the world. In this study, seven medicinal plants used by one hundred and sixty herbalists from Nyamira County to manage anaemia were evaluated for iron and copper bio-accessibility. The competence of four hundred herbalists was assessed, of which 160 participated in the study. Twenty-one different medicinal plants were reported to be used by various herbalists to manage a number of ailments afflicting their communities in three sub-counties in Kenya. A total of ten different medicinal plants were found to be used by the herbalists to manage anemia which is endemic in the country. Seven of the medicinal plants, Aloe Vera, Carissa edulis, Croton macrostachyus, Clerodendrum myricoides, Melia azedrach, Toddalia asiatica and Warburgia ugandensis, were studied by all herbalists. The seven medicinal plants were prepared according to the herbalists' procedure and analyzed for iron and copper through flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The mean iron level in Carissa edulis from Borabu was the highest (2635.48 ± 17.33 mg/kg), while that in Warburgia ugandensis from the Nyamira study area was the lowest (175.76 ± 5.03 mg/kg). The highest mean copper level (9.2 ± 1.24 mg/kg) was reported in Melia azedrach from Ekerenyo, while the lowest (2.12 ± 0.02 mg/kg) was reported in Carissa edulis from the Nyamira study area. Fractionation results indicated that the proportion of iron potentially released (bio-accessible) from all the medicinal plants was quite small. Clerodendrum myricoides had the highest mean iron release and solubility (16.4 mg/kg), while Warburgia ugandensis had the lowest (5.94 mg/kg) among the medicinal plants. More iron and copper were extracted enzymatically as compared to the aqueous extraction. The amount of iron extracted in the intestinal mimicked phase was more than that extracted in the gastric phase, while the reverse was observed for copper. The levels of bio-accessible iron and copper from the medicinal plants, especially those released in enzymatic extraction are quite high and the plants can be used in the management of anaemia.