Are There Studies on Natural Remedies and Sickle Cell Disease?
Dr. Seethal Jacob explains results of a pre-clinical study on the use of plant extracts versus hydroxyurea in sickling of the blood and how studies could move forward for additional treatment options.
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In this program:
For sickle cell disease, are there studies on natural remedies? Watch as expert Dr. Seethal Jacob explains results of a pre-clinical study on the use of plant extracts versus hydroxyurea in sickling of the blood and how studies could move forward for additional treatment options.
Transcript
Leo Hesse:
Is there research looking at molecules present in plant extracts that can ease sickle cell crisis? Example, papaya, pigeon peas, and artar roots.
Dr. Seethal Jacob:
Yeah, that's a great question, and it's really interesting because I've noticed I have a lot more families asking about...asking similar questions in clinic as well, there is actually a recent study that was done, actually looking at those specific plants and extracts from these plants and how it affected sickling. Now, this study was done, it was what I call a preclinical study, meaning it wasn't done in patients, it was actually blood samples taken from patients with sickle cell disease. And then in the lab they added these plant extracts to the blood samples. And so what they found when they added the plant extracts to the blood samples in the lab was there was some difference in the amount of sickling that was noted in those blood samples, they also looked at when they added hydroxyurea (Hydrea) to those blood samples. What happened? And, of course, they saw that it also decreased the amount of sickling. So really interesting because I think as we try to move forward and expand the amount of therapies and the treatments and sort of the wrap-around care that we provide to patients with sickle cell disease, I think it's important for us to know what other modalities of care might be helpful.
Now, this is very preliminary, and so it doesn't mean that if you were to ingest these or eat these plants that you would get the same effect. It also doesn't mean that they are better than some of the treatments that we have available now, like hydroxyurea and others. But it does mean that this is promising, and the next steps would be to see how people themselves respond in real life to these plant extracts and similar natural substances.
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