The antisickling properties of crude juice extracts of the edible
portions of three commonly consumed tropical fruits namely Persia
americana, Citrus sinensis, and Carica papaya were investigated in
vitro alongside a new drug preparation called Ciklavit® that has
antisickling activity. Four different solvent extracts of the crude
juice of each fruit including aqueous, acidic, alkaline and alcoholic
extracts were prepared and their antisickling effects on sickle cell
trait (HbAS) and sickle cell disease (HbSS) blood samples checked
alongside Ciklavit®. Blood samples were stabilized using normal
saline and the antisickling effects were checked by counting the number
of sickle cells remaining after incubation of the blood samples with
the crude fruit extracts and Ciklavit® for twentyfour hours. The
results showed that Ciklavit® produced a sustained reduction in
the number of sickle cells in both HbAS and HbSS blood samples. Also
the alkaline and alcoholic extracts of P. americana and C. papaya
produced significant reduction in the number of sickle cells