The Journal of International Medical Research 2008; 36: 163 – 170
H GOKER1, IC HAZNEDAROGLU1, S ERCETIN2, S KIRAZLI1, U AKMAN1, Y OZTURK2 AND
1Department of Haematology, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey; 2Trend
Ankaferd Blood Stopper® levels were decreased following the standardized mixture of five plants, has addition of ABS, in parallel with the been used historically as a haemostatic prolonged thrombin time. Total protein, agent but its mechanism of action albumin, and globulin levels decreased remains unknown. This study after the addition of ABS. Our findings investigated the in vitro effects of ABS on suggest that ABS stimulates the haemostatic parameters. When added to formation of an encapsulated protein plasma or serum, ABS induced the very network that provides focal points for rapid formation of a protein network and erythrocyte aggregation. ABS has the erythrocyte aggregation. The levels of therapeutic potential to be used for the coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, management of haemorrhage and this XI, and XIII were not affected by ABS. agent should be investigated further in Plasma fibrinogen activity and antigen clinical trials. KEY WORDS: ANKAFERD BLOOD STOPPER® (ABS); THYMUS VULGARIS; GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA; VITIS VINIFERA; ALPINIA OFFICINARUM; URTICA DIOICA; HERBAL REMEDIES; HAEMORRHAGE; HAEMOSTASIS Introduction
Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS) is a unique
folkloric medicinal plant extract, which has
historically been used in Turkish traditional
haemostatic actions of ABS. We studied the
effect of ABS on the status of the principal
plants Thymus vulgaris, Glycyrrhiza glabra,
Vitis vinifera, Alpinia officinarum and Urticadioica. Each of these plants has some effect
platelets and blood cells) in vitro using
routine haemostatic laboratory tests. Since
angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, vascular
dynamics and cell mediators,1 – 6 however,
and mortality, the identification of a novel,
effective haemostatic agent might improve
H Goker, IC Haznedaroglu, S Ercetin et al. Haemostatic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper®
the management of bleeding in a wide range
ABS/950 µl plasma, 10% (2/20) comprising
of patients from all disciplines of clinical
comprising 150 µl ABS/850 µl plasma, andso on up to a 50% dilution (10/20)
Materials and methods
comprising 500 µl ABS/500 µl plasma. All
dilutions were left for no longer than 15
internationally accepted guidelines: EN ISO
min before carrying out the tests. Each test
evaluation of medical devices’; and EN ISO
approximately pH 7.35 was used for testing
evaluation of medical devices – Selection of
(www.iso.org). This investigation was based
on the principle of testing the effect of
different ABS/plasma dilutions on distinct
Asnières sur Seine, France) according to the
descriptive study and, hence, no statistical
coagulation factor activities were calculated
from the calibration standards of the STA-REvolution® haemostasis device. ANKAFERD BLOOD STOPPER® The sample of ABS (Ankaferd Blood MORPHOLOGICAL EVALUATIONS
Morphological evaluations and microscopic
Trend Teknoloji Ilaç AS, Istanbul, Turkey
examinations of peripheral blood cells were
used in this study was lot number 0806002
carried out in the Morphology Laboratory,
Department of Haematology, HacettepeUniversity Medical School and used an
HAEMATOLOGICAL TESTS
Ankaferd Blood Stopper® was diluted with
by adding 50 µl of ABS solution to a drop of
range of dilutions from 0% to 50% in order
to study the in vitro effects of ABS on several
routine haematological parameters,including individual coagulation factors (II,
BIOCHEMICAL TESTS
V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI and XIII), prothrombin
Ankaferd Blood Stopper® was diluted with
time (international normalized ratio) (PT
total protein, albumin and globulin levels
were determined using routine biochemical
(TT), D-dimer test, platelet aggregation test
dilutions were: 5% (1/20) comprising 50 µl
H Goker, IC Haznedaroglu, S Ercetin et al. Haemostatic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper®
rapidly (< 1 s) in the presence of ABS, thereby
Ankaferd Blood Stopper® induced very rapid
participating in protein network formation
(< 1 s) formation of a protein network in the
factors (II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, and XIII), PT
(INR), aPTT, fibrinogen, TT, D-dimer, total
protein, albumin and globulin after theaddition of ABS to fresh normal plasma or
Discussion
In this study, we observed that the addition
Coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI
of ABS to normal plasma and serum resulted
and XIII were not affected by the addition of
in the very rapid (< 1 s) formation of a
ABS to plasma. Plasma fibrinogen activity
protein network. We believe that this ABS-
mg/dl to < 30 mg/dl, in parallel with TT
haemostatic components in vitro failed to
proceed because of the presence of the ABS-
induced protein network (data not shown).
decreased after the addition of ABS to fresh
serum (Table 2). Blood cells, particularly
FIGURE 1: The appearance of fresh normal serum before (A) and after (B) the addition of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS). ABS resulted in very rapid (< 1 s) formation of a protein network (B), the microscopic structure of which is shown in C; original magnification ×10. H Goker, IC Haznedaroglu, S Ercetin et al. Haemostatic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® H Goker, IC Haznedaroglu, S Ercetin et al. Haemostatic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® TABLE 2: Levels of total protein, albumin and globulin at a 5/20 dilution of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS) with human serum compared with control Total protein (g/dl) Albumin (g/dl) Globulin (g/dl)
a’Test’ comprises a dilution of ABS/pooled plasma of 5/20. In the ‘Control’ the ABS was replaced by OwrenKoller buffer. FIGURE 2: Light photomicrograph showing erythrocytes before (A; original magnification ×10) and after (B; original magnification ×20) the addition of Ankaferd Blood Stopper® (ABS) to fresh whole blood. ABS resulted in very rapid (< 1 s) aggregation of erythrocytes
proteins, mainly fibrinogen, and indicated
that ABS could affect both fibrinogen and
erythrocyte aggregation. However, in plasma
other proteins possibly via agglutination of
interacts with fibrinogen as well as other
formation is related to the functions of blood
blood proteins. Since individual clotting
factors (coagulation factors II, V, VII, VIII, IX,
mechanism of action for ABS appears to be
H Goker, IC Haznedaroglu, S Ercetin et al. Haemostatic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper®
agglutination. Blood cells (erythrocytes and
platelets) also aggregated and participated
increases in the presence of fibrinogen.16 The
observations suggest that the ABS-induced
formation of the protein network affected the
hyperaggregation in the thrombotic process
without unequally affecting any individual
clotting factor. ABS might, therefore, be
effective both in individuals with normal
haemostatic parameters and in patients with
greater extent than normal fibrinogen.
secondary haemostasis, including patients
coagulation. The basic mechanism of action
influence on the aggregation process than
for ABS appears to be the formation of an
on plasma viscosity.18 Plasma cell disorders,
encapsulated protein network that provides
such as multiple myeloma, represent ‘disease
focal points for erythrocyte aggregation.
models’ for the interactions of neoplastic
Exposure to ABS seems to provide a tissue
paraprotein, erythrocyte aggregation and TT
haemostatic process without affecting any
fibrinogen activity and fibrinogen antigen
prolongation after the addition of ABS.
advantage over other haemostatically-active
Likewise, biochemical tests also revealed that
total protein, albumin, and globulin levels
decreased after the addition of ABS. Hence,
Some plant extracts can affect the normal
rheological properties of erythrocytes and
others penetrate erythrocyte membranes by
modifying lipid–protein interactions.10,11
There are close relationships between protein
concentrations, polymer type and erythrocyte
standardized mixture of the plants T.vulgaris, G. glabra, V. vinifera, A. officinarum
and U. dioica, each of which has some effect
on haematological and vascular parameters,
hypercoagulability.9 Intensified erythrocyte
and cellular proliferation.1 – 6 For example,
aggregation locally produced in individual
G. glabra inhibits angiogenesis, decreases
rheological properties of blood flow in the
neovascularization.4 G. glabra also has anti-
inflammatory, anti-thrombin, anti-platelet,
H Goker, IC Haznedaroglu, S Ercetin et al. Haemostatic effects of Ankaferd Blood Stopper®
anti-oxidant, anti-atherosclerotic, and anti-
dynamics and cellular mediators should be
tumour activities.4 T. vulgaris has been shown
further investigated, however, in order to
to exhibit varying levels of anti-oxidant
activity, which may help to prevent in vivo
pathological states, including neoplastic
disorders, infectious diseases, premature
peroxidation, associated with atherosclerosis.2
aging, atherosclerosis and diabetes.
Inoculation experiments on detached leaves
of V. vinifera exhibited enhanced resistance
and mortality in any clinical setting. ABS, a
towards pathogens.5,6 V. vinifera also has
traditional folkloric medicinal plant extract,
is a novel effective haemostatic agent that
effects.19,20 A. officinarum inhibits nitric oxide
has the therapeutic potential to be used in
hoped that clinical trials with this promising
U. dioica can produce hypotensive responses
through a vasorelaxation effect mediated by
development of a new drug that is active in
opening of potassium channels, andthrough a negative inotropic action.3 The
Acknowledgement
combination of these plants in ABS appears
We should like to thank Aykut Koroglu for
to provide a unique composition for a tissue
carrying out the microscopic examinations.
oxygenation and a physiological haemostaticprocess without disturbing the levels of any
Conflicts of interest
individual clotting factor. The effects of ABS
Ankaferd Blood Stopper® is a traditional
folkloric medicinal plant extract that has
angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, vascular
• Received for publication 5 August 2007 • Accepted subject to revision 16 August 2007
Copyright 2008 Field House Publishing LLP
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Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (2009) 63, 337 – 339doi:10.1093/jac/dkn488Advance Access publication 26 November 2008Curcumin as a promising antifungal of clinical interestC. V. B. Martins1,2, D. L. da Silva1, A. T. M. Neres3, T. F. F. Magalha˜es1, G. A. Watanabe1,1Departamento de Microbiologia, ICB, UFMG, Av. Pres. Antonio Carlos, 6627, Pampulha, Belo Horizonte,MG 31270-901, Brazil