Planta Med 1990; 56(1): 41-43
DOI: 10.1055/s-2006-960880
Paper

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Phenylalanine is the Predominant Antisickling Agent in Cajanus cajan Seed Extract

G. I. Ekeke1 , F. O. Shode2
  • 1Department of Biochemistry, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  • 2Department of Chemistry, University of Port Harcourt, PMB 5323, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Further Information

Publication History

1988

Publication Date:
05 January 2007 (online)

Abstract

Amino acid analysis showed that solvent extracts of Cajanus cajan L. Millsp. (Fabaceae) seeds (white species) contain, as free amino acid, as much as 26.3% phenylalanine. Antisickling experiments based on the estimated amount of free phenylalanine in the methanol (water-soluble) extract of the seeds showed that the presence of this amino acid alone could account for about 70% of the antisickling potency of Cajanus cajan seed extract.