Nicosan

Nicosan (also known as Niprisan or Hemoxin) is a phytochemical drug developed for the treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD). It is a standardized ethanol/water extract mixture derived from four West African plants: *Piper guineense* seeds, *Pterocarpus osun* stem, *Eugenia caryophyllus* fruit, and *Sorghum bicolor* leaves. The drug's mechanism of action involves inhibiting the sickling of red blood cells by increasing the solubility of sickle hemoglobin (HbS) and significantly prolonging the delay time prior to deoxy-HbS polymerization. Developed by the Nigerian National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) in collaboration with traditional healers, Nicosan received regulatory approval in Nigeria. Clinical trials indicated that the drug effectively reduced the frequency of vaso-occlusive crises, bone pain, and hospital admissions in SCD patients. However, commercial availability ceased after the manufacturer, Xechem International, filed for bankruptcy in 2008.

Brand names

NicosanHemoxinNiprisan