Pseudobombax ellipticum is native to South America and is cultivated worldwide mostly for its medicinal benefits. The plant is used traditionally in respiratory disorders such as dry
cough, in the treatment of
fever and stomach
pain, and as an antimicrobial and
analgesic. The antisickling and
antioxidant effects of the flowers of P. ellipticum (Kunth) Dugand (red) and P. ellipticum cultivar alba (white) were compared using an in vitro assay in 2%
sodium metabisulfite sickling induction model, DPPH, and
metal chelation assays. Both red and white flowers exhibited
antioxidant and antisickling activities. In DPPH assay, lower IC50 (34.89 ± 0.98 and 53.28 ± 1.14 μg mL-1) in red and white flowers respectively were detected relative to
Trolox as a positive control (56.82 ± 0.87 μg mL-1). Comparable
metal chelation activity (81.4 and 77.8 μM
EDTA equivalent/mg) was detected in red and white flowers of both cultivars respectively. The average readings of the "reversal of sickling test "revealed a decrease in sickling percent from 49% to 15% in red flowers and to 18% in white flowers. Also, polymerization inhibition rate was increased from 0.34 to 1 and to 0.92 in red and white flowers respectively. Total phenolics,
flavonoids and
anthocyanins were quantified in red and white flowers as (163.9, 43.13 mg
gallic acid equivalent/g extract), (71.92, 34.5 mg
rutin equivalent/g extract) and (127.0, 85.9 mg
pelargonidine-3-mono
glucoside equivalent/kg extract), respectively. Liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was further employed for detection and identification of
anthocyanins in flower extracts. Eight new
anthocyanins were identified for the first time in genus Pseudobombax. These results reveal the potential role for both red and white flower extracts as possible
antisickling agents in
sickle cell anemia management.