Authors : T. F. Silva , R. F. Silva , M. L. Gomes , J. F. de Oliveira , E. A. C. Lima , R. L. Jales , M.T. J. A. Catanho and M. Bernardo Filho
Abstract: Human beings have been widely used natural products as medicines. However, sometimes the biological effects of these products are not fully known. Sacred Bark (Rhamnus purshina) has been used as a folk medicine for treating constipation, inflammation, tumors and asthma. It is concerned that many natural remedies may contain potentially toxic ingredients and contaminants such as heavy metals. Red blood cells (RBC) and plasma proteins labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) have several clinical applications and it has been reported that some natural products are capable of reducing the efficiency of this radiolabeling. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of an extract of sacred bark on the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc. In this study it was analyzed the heated and no heated extract of sacred bark. In the preparation of the extracts it was used 200mg of sacred bark diluted in 10mL of saline solution (NaCl 0.9%). Samples (0.5mL) of blood from Wistar rats were incubated with 0.1 mL of the extracts during 1 hour. After that, the samples were incubated with stannous chloride (SnCl2) and 99mTc. The blood was centrifuged and plasma (P) and RBC were isolated. P and RBC were also precipitated with trichloroacetic acid and soluble (S) and insoluble (I) fraction (F) were determined. The results have shown that the heated extract has reduced the radiolabeling in BC (from from 94.76%? 0.66 to 89.80%? 4.23). It was described that some extracts as Fucus vesiculosus, Paullinia cupana, Mentha crispa L were able to alter the radiolabeling. In the light of the results obtained we suggest that the referred extract when it is heated may induce the generation of activity metabolites with oxidant properties and/or reactive species of Oxygen with direct action on the labeling process.
T. F. Silva , R. F. Silva , M. L. Gomes , J. F. de Oliveira , E. A. C. Lima , R. L. Jales , M.T. J. A. Catanho and M. Bernardo Filho , 2004. Evaluation of the Effect of a Natural Extract of Sacred Bark (Rhamnus purshina) on the Radiolabeling of Blood Constituents . Journal of Food Technology, 2: 166-171.