Mechanisms of reversed flavonoid action on blood cells: significance in thromboembolism.
An investigation was conducted on reversal of flavonoid action on erythrocyte aggregation and sedimentation (ESR) in blood from hospitalized patients. Nine compounds were tested. The flavonoids inhibited the ESR in some patients, showed no effect in others and accelerated the ESR in still other patients. With normal ratios of plasma proteins and packed cell volumes (PCV) of 40 vol % or lower the flavonoids inhibited the ESR, but they reversed their action and accelerated the ESR with increased PCV, alteration of plasma proteins, increased calcium and decreased phosphorus; conditions which apparently decreased intercellular distance enabling flavonoids to bridge between erythrocytes similar to antibodies and increase aggregation and sedimentation. The PCV of 156 patients, 60 males and 96 females, average 42 vol % for males and 39 vol % for females. Among these patients 27 had PCV's above 45 vol % and 63.9% of this group (ac PCV 49.5) had experiencedrecent thrombotic episodes compared to only 3.4% for patients with PCV's below 45 vol % (av PCV 41.0). These data point to hazards of PCV's that are considerably above the range of maximum oxygen transport of 40 to 42 vol %. Since the liver and spleen remove clumped cells from the circulation, present evidence indicates flavonoids via their aggregating action at high PCV's may function as regulators acting to maintain tissue perfusion via their antiadhesive action on blood cells and adjustment of ratio of cells to fluid volume of the blood.
D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D001799:Blood Sedimentation; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006400:Hematocrit; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000097:blood; D011794:Quercetin / Q000494:pharmacology; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000097:blood*
D001798:Blood Proteins; D005419:Flavonoids; D010758:Phosphorus; D011794:Quercetin; D002118:Calcium