Gum Arabic as novel anti-oxidant agent in sickle cell anemia, phase II trial

Lamis Kaddam; Imad Fadl-Elmula; Omer Ali Eisawi; Haydar Awad Abdelrazig; Mohammed Abdelraman Salih; Florian Lang; Amal M Saeed

doi:10.1186/s12878-017-0075-y

Gum Arabic as novel anti-oxidant agent in sickle cell anemia, phase II trial

BMC Hematol. 2017 Mar 16:17:4. doi: 10.1186/s12878-017-0075-y. eCollection 2017.

Authors

Lamis Kaddam¹, Imad Fadl-Elmula², Omer Ali Eisawi³, Haydar Awad Abdelrazig⁴, Mohammed Abdelraman Salih⁵, Florian Lang⁶, Amal M Saeed⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Alneelain University, P.O. Box: 11121, Khartoum, 12702 Sudan.
² Alneelain Research Centre Faculty of Medicine, Alneelain University, Khartoum, Sudan.
³ Department of Hematology Military Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics Military Hospital, Khartoum, Sudan.
⁵ Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.
⁶ Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.
⁷ Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, Khartoum, Sudan.

Abstract

Background: Sickle cell anemia patients suffer from oxidative stress due to chronic inflammation and self-oxidation of sickle hemoglobin (Hb S). Chronic oxidative stress contributes to endothelial dysfunction, inflammation and multiple organ damage in sickle cell disease (SCD). Thus, antioxidant medication may favorably influence the disease. Gum Arabic (GA), edible, dried, gummy exudates from Acacia Senegal tree, has been claimed to act as an anti-oxidant and cytoprotective agent, protecting against experimental hepatic, renal and cardiac toxicities in rats. We hypothesized that regular intake of GA increases anti-oxidant capacity and reduce oxidative stress.

Methods: Forty-seven patients (5-42 years) carrying hemoglobin SS were recruited. Patients received 30 g/day GA for 12 weeks. Total anti-oxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) levels were measured by spectrophotometric methods before and after GA intake. Complete blood count was measured by sysmex.

Results: Gum Arabic significantly increased TAC level P < 0.001and decreased the oxidative markers MDA (P < 0.05) and H₂O₂ (P < 0.005).

Conclusions: GA has potent anti- oxidative properties in sickle cell anemia. The anti-oxidant effect of GA may thus favorably influence the clinical condition of this and further diseases characterized by oxidative stress.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02467257. Registered 3rd June 2015. Retrospective registration.

Keywords: Anti-oxidant; Gum Arabic; Oxidative stress; Sickle.

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT02467257