Effect of oral ingestion of an extract of the herb Uncaria tomentosa on the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate in rats.

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the oral ingestion of an extract of the herb Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) on the biodistribution of the radiobiocomplex sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats. The animals (male Wistar rats, 2 months old, 180-220 g), were treated (1 mL) with an U. tomentosa extract (32 mg/mL, N = 5) or 0.9% NaCl solution (control, N = 5) for 7 days. After this period, Na99mTcO4 (3.7 MBq, 0.3 mL) was injected through the ocular plexus and after 10 min the rats were killed, the organs isolated and counted in a well-gamma counter. A significant (P < 0.05) alteration in Na99mTcO4 uptake i) from 0.57 +/- 0.008 to 0.39 +/- 0.06 %ATI/organ (P < 0.05) and from 0.57 +/- 0.17 to 0.39 +/- 0.14 %ATI/g (P < 0.05) was observed in the heart, ii) from 0.07 +/- 0.02 to 0.19 +/- 0.07 %ATI/g in the pancreas, and iii) from 0.07 +/- 0.01 to 0.18 +/- 0.07 %ATI/g (P < 0.05) in muscle after treatment with this extract. Although these results were obtained with animals, caution is advisable in the interpretation of the nuclear medicine examination when the patient is using this herb. This finding is probably an example of drug interaction with a radiopharmaceutical, a fact that could lead to misdiagnosis of the examination in clinical practice with unexpected consequences for the patient.

Effect of oral ingestion of an extract of the herb Uncaria tomentosa on the biodistribution of sodium pertechnetate in rats

The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of the oral ingestion of an extract of the herb Uncaria tomentosa (cat's claw) on the biodistribution of the radiobiocomplex sodium pertechnetate (Na99mTcO4) in rats. The animals (male Wistar rats, 2 months old, 180-220 g), were treated (1 mL) with an U. tomentosa extract (32 mg/mL, N = 5) or 0.9 percent NaCl solution (control, N = 5) for 7 days. After this period, Na99mTcO4 (3.7 MBq, 0.3 mL) was injected through the ocular plexus and after 10 min the rats were killed, the organs isolated and counted in a well-gamma counter. A significant (P < 0.05) alteration in Na99mTcO4 uptake i) from 0.57 ± 0.008 to 0.39 ± 0.06 percentATI/organ (P < 0.05) and from 0.57 ± 0.17 to 0.39 ± 0.14 percentATI/g (P < 0.05) was observed in the heart, ii) from 0.07 ± 0.02 to 0.19 ± 0.07 percentATI/g in the pancreas, and iii) from 0.07 ± 0.01 to 0.18 ± 0.07 percentATI/g (P < 0.05) in muscle after treatment with this extract. Although these results were obtained with animals, caution is advisable in the interpretation of the nuclear medicine examination when the patient is using this herb. This finding is probably an example of drug interaction with a radiopharmaceutical, a fact that could lead to misdiagnosis of the examination in clinical practice with unexpected consequences for the patient.

Biological effects of a chayotte extract in Wistar rats with induced diabetes: a radiopharmaceutically analysis.

The present research evaluated the influence of a chayotte (Sechium edule) extract (macerated) on the bioavailability of 99TcO4Na as well as in the mass of the organs. In this study, in the biodistribution analysis, the 99mTcO4Na was administrated into female Wistar rats (diabetes and no diabetes induced) which had drunk or not the extract for 7 days. After 10 min, animals were sacrificed, the organs were isolated, the radioactivity determined in a well counter and the percentages of radioactivity per gram (%ATI/g) in the organs and mass of them (g) were calculated. The analysis of the results has indicated that in the diabetes group had been an increase in the uptake of 99mTcO4Na the in pancreas as well as in the diabetes groups treated with chayotte extract. The mass of the spleen, stomach, pancreas, heart and kidney has been altered due to the comparison of the groups. It is possible to suggest that some components of chayotte extracts present an oxidant power able to alter the biodistribution of 99mTcO4Na, as a tip, we speculate that the referred extract when metabolized in the liver may produce reactive metabolites with oxidant properties linked to the stress which is generated by diabetic status, this fact could justify by the increase of %ATI/g in the pancreas which probably may be due to the producing of AGEs in diabetes status as well as by the different molecular and cellular mechanisms related to the effects of the extract and diabetes would promote differences in the mass of the organs.

Effects of a chayotte (Sechium edule) extract (macerated) on the biochemistry of blood of Wistar rats and on the action against the stannous chloride effect.

The use of natural products as medicines has been growing in the entire world. There are concerns that these products may contain potentially toxic ingredients and contaminants such as heavy metals. The labeling of blood constituents with technetium-99m has been influenced by the presence of natural extracts. We evaluated the influence of a chayotte (Sechium edule) extract (100% v/v macerated) on the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc. The animals were treated with the extract during 15 days. Samples of blood were carried out with specific blood biochemistry kits. The present study analyzed the influence ofchayotte in the survival of the strain of Escherichia coli AB1157 submitted to reactive oxygen species induced by stannous chloride. There was a reduction of the lethal effect induced by stannous chloride on the survival of the E. coli culture in the presence of chayotte. The results indicated a decrease in the level of glucose and globulin The effect of the extract could be explained by its metabolic transformation inducing the generation of oxidant metabolites. The culture of bacteria when was treated with stannous chloride and chayotte simultaneously, the extract could be reacting with stannous chloride ions, protecting them against the oxidation avoiding the generation of reactive oxygen species.

Effect of an extract of cauliflower (leaf) on the labeling of blood elements with technetium-99m and on the survival of Escherichia coli AB1157 submitted to the treatment with stannous chloride.

The labeling of red blood cells (RBC) with technetium-99m (99mTc) depends on a reducing agent and stannous chloride (SnCl(2)) and is widely utilized. This labeling may also be altered by drugs, and SnCl(2) reduces the survival of Escherichia coli cultures. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is used in folk medicine and we evaluated its influence on (i) the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc, and (ii) on the survival of an E. coli strain. Blood was withdrawn from rats that drank the extract of cauliflower (15 days). Blood was incubated with SnCl(2) and with 99mTc, as sodium pertechnetate, centrifuged and plasma (P) and RBC were isolated. Samples of P and RBC were also precipitated, centrifuged and soluble and insoluble fractions isolated. E. coli culture was treated with SnCl(2) in the presence of cauliflower. The extract of cauliflower did not alter the fixation of 99mTc on blood fractions; however, it abolished the lethal effect of SnCl(2) on the E. coli culture. We suggest that the substances present in the extract of cauliflower probably, would have redox property with different mechanisms of action. The oxidant action of the substances of the extract would not be strong enough to oxidise the stannous ions altering the 99mTc-labeling. However, the referred substances could oxidise these ions sufficiently to protect the E. coli culture against the lethal effect of the stannous ion.