Phytoconstituents, Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and in vitro Antisickling Activities of Mucuna pruriens Leaves Decoction Extracts in HbSS Erythrocytes

Abstract

In the present study, the phytochemical and mineral nutritional profiles and antibacterial, antioxidant, and
antisickling effects of decoction of Mucuna pruriens leaves were evaluated. Standard analytical techniques were
used throughout the study. A qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids,
phenolics, eugenols, and reducing sugars, while saponins, tannins, steroids, and terpenoids were absent. The
decoction extract of Mucuna pruriens contained key mineral nutrients such as sodium (1343.67 mg/kg),
potassium (1018 mg/kg), calcium (238.33 mg/kg), magnesium (377 mg/kg), copper (23.33 mg/kg), iron (336.67
mg/kg), zinc (29.67 mg/kg), manganese (106.67 mg/kg), and nickel (11.33 mg/kg). The antimicrobial tests
displayed concentration-dependent inhibition against Escherichia coli (15.0 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (14.1
mm), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.0 mm), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (22.0 mm) at a concentration of 100
mg/mL. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) for all isolates were 25 mg/mL. The minimum
bactericidal doses were 25 mg/mL for S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and K. pneumoniae, while for E. coli they were
75 mg/mL. The DPPH assay demonstrated moderate free radical scavenging capacity, with IC₅₀ values of 99.64
µg/mL for ascorbic acid and 267.21 µg/mL for the extract. The antisickling activity of an aqueous extract of M.
pruriens leaves was evaluated within a concentration range of 5 - 500 mg/mL with sickling induced by 0.2 mL
of 2% sodium metabisulphite and p-hydroxybenzoic acid as the reference standard and normal saline as a blank
control in sickle cell blood. Microscopic analysis showed a concentration- and time-dependent reversal of
sickling in the extract. Low to moderate concentrations of the extract (5-50 mg/mL) effectively suppressed
sickling, while higher doses (100-500 mg/mL) produced an initial inhibitory effect followed by gradual
recurrence of sickling over time. These results validate the conventional use of M. pruriens aqueous leaf
decoction as a nutraceutical and therapeutic agent for managing oxidative stress and anemia-related conditions,
particularly sickle cell disease.