Background and Objectives: Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is the most common X-linked disorder of human erythrocytes in which cells are susceptible towards hemolytic changes and could be destroyed by peroxides. Extracts of Ilex spinigera and Gleditsia caspica leaves have excellent free radical scavenging activity. We investigated the protective effects of these extracts against hemolysis induced by some drugs in G6PD-deficient erythrocytes. Methods: Blood samples were collected from males with and without G6PD deficiency. Hemolysis induced by aspirin, phenylhydrazine hydrochloride and phenacetin was assessed in the presence and absence of the extracts. The amount of released hemoglobin was determined by reading absorbance at 540 nm. Results: The methanol extract of G. caspica had significant protective effects against phenacetin-induced hemolysis in G6PD-deficient human erythrocytes (P<0.05). However, the I. spinigera extract had no significant anti-hemolytic effects on these cells. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that the extract of G. caspica could be a potential drug with antioxidant and anti-hemolytic properties for patients with G6PD deficiency.
