Oral High-Dose Ankaferd Administration Effects on Gastrointestinal System

Abstract

Background and aims: Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is a herbal extract obtained from five different plants. It has a therapeutic potential for the management of external hemorrhage and controlling gastrointestinal bleeding. However, ABS's effects are not unknown on gastrointestinal systems. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of short- and long-term systemic exposure and gastrointestinal safety following the oral administration of high-dose ABS in rats.Methods: Eighteen healthy adult male rats were included into the study. The rats were divided into 4 groups: group A was fed with high dose ABS (2ml/Kg) for one week, group B for one month, group C for three months and group D's diet did not contain any ABS. On termination of the ABS treatment, the gastrointestinal system from the esophagus to the anus and the liver were surgically removed and histological investigated.Results: During the study period, there was no mortality; signs of intoxication in any of the studied groups. No gastrointestinal tissue fibrosis, dysplasia, or metaplasia was detectable in any of the groups. The stomach had a normal morphology in all groups. However, the other gastrointestinal tract sections showed mucosal inflammation, goblet cell decrements, and intra-epithelial lymphocyte infiltration. The most common changes were mucosal inflammation in all rats in group B and C. Frequency of inflammation was greater in groups B and C in comparison to group A (P= 0.001). Loss of goblet cell and intra-epithelial lymphocyte infiltration were not significantly different between groups A and B (P=0.308 and P=0.189, respectively). However, there was significantly higher intra-epithelial lymphocyte infiltration in group C than in group A (P=0.04). Histopathological examination of the liver showed no inflammation, fibrosis, bile duct destruction or proliferation in any of the groups. However, each groups revealed vascular dilatation and erythrocyte accumulation at the sinusoidal structures of the liver.Conclusions: ABS seems to be a safe agent and it can be used for hemorrhage originated from gastric lesions. Further work needs to be done to establish whether ABS leads to be used to stop gastrointestinal bleeding.

Treatment of hemorrhagic gastritis by Ankaferd blood stopper versus Omeprazole: experimental randomized rat models

“…Acute toxicity was not observed in rats given ABS at this dose. Similarly, no signs of serious toxicity were reported in rats with use of 4 ml/kg dose of ABS for 3 months [14]. In our study, it was shown that short-term administration of a high dose of ABS was able to control hemorrhagic lesions with no associated serious systemic toxicity.…”

“…In vitro data demonstrating beneficial antibacterial and wound healing profile of ABS supported its use in the control of gastrointestinal [7][8][9][10][11] and mediastinal bleeding [12,13]. In a study by Akbal et al, it was emphasized that the administration of ABS as a single dose for gastrointestinal system bleeding did not cause systemic side effects but care should be taken when it's used for longer term (e.g., for 3 months) [14]. In experimental esophagitis models, administration of ABS was shown to provide marked improvement in mortality and stenosis index [15].…”

Successful Treatment of Refractory Gastrointestinal Bleeding by Systemic (Oral) Ankaferd Blood Stopper in a Patient with Glanzmann Thrombasthenia

“…Another difference of this patient in comparison with other cases presented in the medical literature is the oral use of ABS. In only a few recent studies have high doses of oral ABS been reported to be safe in healthy rats (13) and tandem oral, rectal, and nasal administrations in patients with Klatskin tumor (14). Although this patient may contribute to the medical community in showing the safety and efficacy of systemic (oral) ABS in patients with disorders of hemostasis, it is obvious that further experience on its use in patients and further clinical studies are needed.…”

Comprehensive Bioanalysis of Ultrahigh Molecular Weight, Highly Disperse Poly(ethylene oxide) in Rat via Microsolid Phase Extraction and RPLC-Q-Q-TOF Coupled with the MSALL Technique

“…Poly­(ethylene oxide) (PEO) is a synthetic hydrophilic and biocompatible polymer similar to polyethylene glycol (PEG) but with a larger molecular weight (>100 kDa). It occurs as a free-flowing white powder which has been approved by the FDA for use as an excipient to increase viscosity and modify the flow of aqueous solutions. − Recently, ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW) PEO (viscometric average MW 1700 kDa) has been found to be an effective hemostatic agent for use in the treatment of gastrointestinal bleeding. − This is because when PEO powder is applied to a wound site, it rapidly facilitates production of a gel-like matrix incorporating platelets, red blood cells, and coagulation proteins that can seal the bleeding tissue. ,, UHMW PEO is superior to traditional absorbable polysaccharide particles in being nonbiodegradable and insensitive to pH which greatly reduces the risk of a rebleed. However, questions remain as to whether UHMW PEO undergoes systemic absorption from the wound site and, if so, whether it is excreted unchanged or in the form of metabolites.…”

“…4−7 This is because when PEO powder is applied to a wound site, it rapidly facilitates production of a gel-like matrix incorporating platelets, red blood cells, and coagulation proteins that can seal the bleeding tissue. 4,8,9 UHMW PEO is superior to traditional absorbable polysaccharide particles in being nonbiodegradable and insensitive to pH which greatly reduces the risk of a rebleed. However, questions remain as to whether UHMW PEO undergoes systemic absorption from the wound site and, if so, whether it is excreted unchanged or in the form of metabolites.…”