Epidemic dropsy toxin, sanguinarine chloride, stimulates sucrose-sensitive hemolysis and breakdown of membrane phospholipid asymmetry in human erythrocytes

Sanguinarine (SGN) is a benzophenathridine alkaloid extracted from Sanguinaria canadensis plant. SGN is incriminated in epidemic dropsy (ED) characterized by multiple-organ failure and anemia. Nevertheless, how SGN leads to anemia of ED remains poorly understood. This study was thus initiated to investigate the interaction of SGN with human red blood cells (RBCs) and to delineate associated molecular mechanisms. Heparin- and EDTA-anticoagulated...