Effects of the extract of Cajanus-cajan seeds on Hbss erythrocyte glutathione-S-transferase activity

Red cell Glutathione-S. transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) of volunteer sicklers, fed regularly with controlled doses of the antisickling extracts of Cajanus cajan seeds was found to decrease progressively with time (78.32 +/- 8.94% drop on the 3rd month). The in-vivo effect of the extract also included a progressive increase in whole blood haemogolobin (38.43 +/- 8.62% rise on 3rd month). Phenylalanine, an antisickling amino acid, also exhibited a progressive in-vitro inhibition of the activity of this erythrocyte enzyme (assayed at 37 degrees C, pH 6.5) in a concentration--dependent manner (59.0 +/- 5.58% at 0.5mM). Similar, but more pronounced, in-vitro inhihitory effect was also exhibited by cajanus extract (84.0 +/- 4.01% at 0.5mM equivalent). These findings suggest an influence of the antisickling nutrient/extract on the redox status of 4bSS erythrocytes