Effect of Ligaria cuneifolia cathechin- and quercetin-enriched fractions on hemorheology and plasma cholesterol

ALICIA DOMINIGHINI; MARIANA FERRERO; DIEGO CROSETTI; MARÍA DE LUJÁN ALVAREZ; MARÍA TERESA RONCO; JOSÉ GONZÁLVEZ; MARCELO L. WAGNER; ALBERTO GURNI; CRISTINA CARNOVALE; ALEJANDRA LUQUITA

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation

IOS Press

Año: 2010 vol. 44 p. 1 - 9

1386-0291

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0cm; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;} @page Section1 {size:612.0pt 792.0pt; margin:70.85pt 3.0cm 70.85pt 3.0cm; mso-header-margin:36.0pt; mso-footer-margin:36.0pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> 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/100g 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 /100g 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.