Abstract: Iron metabolism in adolescents during pregnancy is degraded in the world. And yet, very few studies in Côte d'Ivoire are devoted to this public health concern. This study aims to evaluate and characterize possible changes in iron metabolism in adolescents during pregnancy. Our study involved 112 adolescents aged 15 to 19 in consultation in urban community health centers of Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire). In each adolescent, a blood sample was taken at bend of the elbow in morning on an empty stomach. These blood samples were collected in tubes with anticoagulant (EDTA) and dry tubes. The haematological and biochemical parameters were determined to assess iron status of adolescent in the three trimesters of pregnancy. Findings of study showed that iron stores and all evaluation parameters of iron metabolism were altered in adolescents during pregnancy. Haematological parameters except for MCH and MCHC and serum iron, saturation coefficient of transferrin and serum ferritin were decreased in the third trimester of pregnancy. Conversely, serum transferrin and total iron bindin capacity were increased at this same trimester of pregnancy. Anaemia prevalence of 77.7% among study subjects was observed in third trimester of pregnancy. Moreover, at this stage of pregnancy, no adolescent has indicated normal biological parameter of iron metabolism. In this sense, observed components of iron status were, iron deficiency, iron deficiency anaemia, inflammatory anaemia and inflammatory anaemia associated with iron deficiency. Iron deficiency anaemia is most prevalent among adolescents with 76.8% in the third trimester of pregnancy. Iron metabolism in adolescents of Abidjan is highly altered. This degradation is more significant in third trimester of pregnancy.

Abstract: There is an increasing need to source for pharmacological and medicinal materials from plant source. An exploratory effort towards identifying and characterizing new anticoagulants from plants is worthwhile. Extract from Pentaclethra macrophylla (African oil bean) was subjected to anticoagulation activity and compared with EDTA and sodium citrate anticoagulants using some haematological parameters. The seeds of Pentaclethra macrophylla were dried and ground into powdered form. 2ml of blood sample was introduced into each tube containing 0.1g, 0.2g and 0.5g of the powdered extract. Coagulation was achieved in 2520 sec and 105 sec in 0.2g and 0.5g tubes respectively while in 0.1g tube coagulation was unattained. The extract-anticoagulated blood was compared with EDTA/sodium citrate-anticoagulated blood. The results of PCV, Hb, WBC and platelet count showed no significant difference (p>0.05) when compared. However, PT and APTT were significantly different (p<0.05). In vitro anticoagulation activity of Pentaclethra macrophylla was established. It may also be of interest as an anticoagulant for laboratory use.