Abstract

An investigation was conducted to determine the amount of protective effect of polyphenolic flavonoid extracts from the medicinal plant Primula heterochroma Stapf might have against hemolysis induced by sodium fluoride in rat erythrocytes. Blood samples from cardiac puncture of male rats sacrificed after anesthesia were collected for the preparation of erythrocyte suspensions in saline phosphate buffer. Hemolysis in the erythrocytes was induced by 24.7 +/- 1.79 in 500 ppm NaF down to 10.2 +/- 0.58 in 100 ppm NaF. All P. heterochroma extracts at 0.8 mg/mL showed moderate protective effects against NaF-induced hemolysis in the erythrocytes. Fractions extracted by ethyl acetate gave a 23.1 +/- 1.16 protective effect in 100 ppm NaF, those by water 23.2 +/- 0.97, and those by n-hexane 22.5 +/- 0.85.