Affiliations: Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Rosario, Argentina | Departamento de Ciencias Fisiológicas, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Instituto de Fisiología Experimental (IFISE)-CONICET, Rosario, Argentina | Cátedra de Farmacobotánica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Note: [] Corresponding author: Dr. Alejandra Luquita, Cátedra de Física Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Santa Fe 3100, 2000 Rosario, Argentina. Fax: (+54 341) 448 4761; E-mail: luquitale@hotmail.com
Abstract: We tested the in vivo and the in vitro effects of both Ligaria cuneifolia catechin- and quercetin-enriched fractions on erythrocyte shape and deformability, and on plasma cholesterol level. For in vivo studies, adult male Wistar rats were randomized in three experimental groups which received intraperitoneally, once a day, 3 days: Control: saline solution (C; n = 6); catechin from L. cuneifolia, 0.60 mg/100 g body weight (CLc; n = 6), or quercetin from L. cuneifolia, 2.3 mg/100 g body weight (QLc; n = 6). For in vitro studies, blood samples obtained from male Wistar rats were divided into three fractions, which were incubated with saline solution (C), catechin (CLc; n = 5) and quercetin (QLc; n = 5), in a concentration equivalent to 0.60 mg/100 g body weight, and 2.3 mg/100 g body weight, respectively. CLc significantly reduced the rigidity index due to a diminished mean concentration volume. QLc induced erythrocyte rigidization (less deformability), thus increasing blood viscosity. Neither of the two treatments produced any changes in plasmatic or biliary excretion of cholesterol. Opposite results were observed in rigidity index with CLc and QLc. In vitro studies showed an interaction of both CLc and QLc with the erythrocyte membrane, which induced changes in the erythrocyte shape from discocyte to stomatocyte.
Keywords: Ligaria cuneifolia, catechin, quercetin, whole blood viscosity, plasmatic and biliary excretion of cholesterol, erythrocyte deformability
