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POSTER PRESENTATION / POSTER SUNUM

Henna and Hemolysis: The Invisible Risk of G6PD Deficiency

Enes Melih AKAT* Ahmet ATEŞŞAHİN

Fırat University Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology

Merkez/Elazığ, TÜRKİYE

*Correspound Author: veterinarymlh.akt@gmail.com

Henna (Lawsonia inermis), a flowering plant of the family Lythraceae, is described as a
glabrous, highly branched, medium-sized shrub. The monotopic genus Lawsonia inermis,

commonly known as mehndi, henna, or simply henna plant, is utilized in both cosmetics and
pharmacology. However, Lawsonia inermis contains the active compound 2-hydroxy-1,4-

naphthoquinone, which has the potential to induce oxidative hemolysis. Although studies on
its toxicity have primarily been limited to experimental animals, clinical cases in humans

associated with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) inhibition, as well as

insufficient data regarding the required toxic dose, highlight a significant gap in knowledge
concerning its effects in other living organisms. In humans, numerous cases related to oral

consumption of henna have been reported worldwide. These include neonatal cases linked
to G6PD deficiency, adult cases associated with G6PD enzyme inhibition, and in elderly

individuals, acute renal failure and hemolytic anemia resulting from G6PD deficiency and
inhibition, in some instances leading to death. Animal studies, on the other hand, have

mainly focused on determining the toxic dose in experimental models, and no fatal outcomes

have been reported. In a more recent study conducted on lambs, alterations in liver enzyme
levels were observed, yet mortality was not detected. In light of these findings, it appears

that a specific treatment protocol for henna toxicity in humans remains lacking. Similarly, in
animals, species-specific toxic dose thresholds, the underlying mechanisms of toxicity, and

effective treatment strategies remain unclear.

Keywords: Lawsonia inermis, Hemolysis, G6PD, Toxicity.

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