An experimental model to study the effects of a senna extract on the blood constituent labeling and biodistribution of a radiopharmaceutical in rats

Cassia angustifolia Vahl (senna) is a natural product that contains sennosides, which are active components that affect the intestinal tract and induce diarrhea. Authors have shown that senna produces DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) lesions in Escherichia coli cultures and can act as an antifungal agent. Natural drugs can alter the labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m (99mTc) and can affect the biodistribution of radiopharmaceuticals. In this work, we have evaluated the influence of a senna extract on the radiolabeling of blood constituents and on the biodistribution of the radiopharmaceutical sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4)in Wistar rats. Twelve animals were treated with senna extract for 7 days. Blood samples were withdrawn from the animals and the radiolabeling procedure was carried out. The senna extract did not modify the radiolabeling of the blood constituents. A biodistributional assay was performed by administering Na99mTcO4 and determining its activity in different organs and in blood. The senna extract altered the biodistribution of Na99mTcO4 in the thyroid, liver, pancreas, lungs and blood. These results are associated with properties of the chemical substances present in the aqueous senna extract. Although these assays were performed in animals, our findings suggest that caution should be exercised when nuclear medicine examinations using Na99mTcO4 are conducted in patients who are using senna extract.

Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum treatment on radiolabeling of blood bonstituents and morphology of red blood cells in Wistar rats

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of in vivo treatment with an aqueous cinnamon extract on thelabeling of blood constituents with 99mTc and on the morphology of red blood cells from Wistar rats. Animals were treated with cinnamon extract at different doses and for different periods of time. As controls, animals treated with0.9% NaCl. Labeling of blood constituents with 99mTc was performed. Plasma, blood cells and insoluble fractions were isolated. Radioactivity in each fraction was counted and the percentage of radioactivity (%ATI) was calculated. Also, blood smears were prepared to morphological analysis of red blood cells from. Data showed that in vivo cinnamon extract did not significantly (p>0.05) modify the %ATI of blood constituents and morphology of red blood cells. The results suggest that in vivo aqueous cinnamon could not affect the membrane structures involved in transport of ions or the oxidation state of stannous and pertechnetate ions.

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar efeitos do tratamento in vivo com um extrato aquoso de canela na marcação de constituintes sangüíneos com 99mTc e na morfologia de hemácias de ratosWistar. Os animais foram tratados com diferentes doses ou por diferentes tempos com extrato de canela Como controles, animais tratados com NaCl 0,9%. A marcação de constituintes sangüíneos com 99mTc foi realizada, plasma, células sangüíneas e frações insolúveis foram isoladas. A radioatividade em cada fração foi contada e a porcentagem de radioatividade (%ATI) foi calculada. Distensões sangüíneas foram preparadas para análise morfológica dehemácias. Os dados mostraram que o tratamento in vivo com extrato de canela não modificaria significativamente (p>0,05) a %ATI nosconstituintes sangüíneos e a morfologia de hemácias. Os resultados sugerem que o extrato aquoso de canela não afetaria in vivo as estruturas da membrana envolvidas no transporte de íons ou o estado de oxidação dos íons estanoso e pertecnetato.

Effects of clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) on the labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m and on the morphology of red blood cells

Clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) has been used for clinical procedures. Blood constituents labeled with technetium-99m (99mTc) are used in nuclear medicine. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effects of clove extract on the labeling blood constituents with 99mTc and on the morphology of red blood cells. Blood samples were incubated with clove, stannous chloride and 99mTc. Plasma, blood cells, insoluble fractions of plasma and blood cells were separated. The radioactivity was counted and percentage of radioactivity ( percentATI) to each blood fraction was calculated. The shape and morphometric parameter (perimeter/area ratio) were evaluated. Clove extract altered significantly (p<0.05) the percentATI of blood constituents and the shape of red blood cells without modifying the perimeter/area ratio. The results indicate that clove extract presents chemical compounds that interfere with the radiolabeling of blood constituents and alter the morphology of red blood cells by oxidative/chelating actions or interacting with the cellular membrane structure.

O cravo-da-índia (Caryophyllus aromaticus L.) tem sido usado em tratamentos clínicos. Constituintes sangüíneos marcados com tecnécio-99m (99mTc) são usados em medicina nuclear O objetivo foi avaliar os efeitos de um extrato de cravo-da-índia na marcação de constituintes sangüíneos com 99mTc e na morfologia das hemácias. Amostras de sangue foram incubadas com cravo-da-índia, cloreto estanoso e 99mTc. Plasma, células sangüíneas, frações insolúveis do plasma e das células sangüíneas foram separadas. A porcentagem de radioatividade incorporada ( por cento ATI) nestas frações foi calculada. Forma e relação perímetro/área das hemácias foram avaliadas. O extrato de cravo-da-índia alterou significativamente (p<0,05) a radiomarcação de constituintes sangüíneos e qualitativamente a forma das hemácias. Não foram obtidas alterações na relação perímetro/área hemácias. Os resultados indicam que o extrato de cravo-da-índia apresenta compostos que interferem com a radiomarcação de constituintes sangüíneos e alteram a morfologia de células sangüíneas através de ações oxidativas/quelantes ou interagindo com a estrutura da membrana celular.