Effect of Peumus boldus on the labeling of red blood cells and plasma proteins with Technetium-99m

Peumus boldus is used in popular medicine in Brazil. The influence of Peumu s boldus On the labeling of red blood cells and plasma proteins with Tc-99m was studied. Stannous chloride and Tc-99m pertechnetate were incubated wit h blood and a tincture of Peumus boldus. Aliquots of plasma and blood cells were isolated from the mixture and treated with trichloroacetic acid (TCA) . After separation, analysis of the soluble and insoluble fractions showed a rapid uptake of the radioactivity by blood cells in the presence of the d rug, whereas there was a slight decrease in the amount of Tc-99m radioactiv ity in the TCA-insoluble fraction of plasma. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.