摘要 |
A composition and method of treatment of hemoglobinopathies, such as, for example, sickle cell disease and thalassemia, wherein an inventive extract used in such treatment is obtained from alfalfa and other certain plant materials, preferably using a hydroxide base and hexane. In the most preferred embodiment, the plant material is first extracted with 1,1,1-trichloroethane and a hydroxide base, followed by extraction with hexane. The polar acidic compounds present in alfalfa and other plant materials selectively dissolve in the hexane phase and exhibit good antisickling activity in vitro. Further, these active compounds which comprise the inventive extract are effective in vivo by significantly alleviating the many clinical manifestations of sickle cell disease and thalassemia experienced by the affected patients.
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