Investigation of the effects of ankaferd blood stopper(ABS)on experimental neutropenic rat model with systemic candida infection

Febrile neutropenic episodes in patients with hematologic malignancy is a serious complication that can require hospitalization and can lead to death. An opportunistic microorganisms Candida albicans may leads to manifestations of superficial infection to multiple organ involvement in neutropenic patients and cause morbidity and mortality. Resistance against antifungal drugs and adverse effects of antifungals lead to need for new options in antifungal therapy. For this reason there is a lot of new studies about the usage of plant extracts as antifungal preparations. Ankaferd Blood Stopper (ABS) is a product formed from a standardized mixture of Thymus vulgaris (thyme), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Vitis vinifera (grapevine), Alpinia officinarum (galanga) and Urtica dioica (stinging nettle). Ankaferd Blood Stopper is used as a hemostatic agent in Turkish medicine and antibacterial and antifungal activity have been demonstrated in several in vitro studies. Our study investigated histopathological effects of ABS on in vivo candida infection. 24 rats became neutropenic by cyclophosphamide injection. After that c. albicans inoculated intraperitoneally and systemic candida infection created. Rats divided into two group. Oral ABS solution was given to first group and oral saline was given to other group. At the end of seven days the rats were sacrificed, the liver, lungs and kidneys were removed and examined pathologically. At the end of the study we found that there was no statistically significant difference between two groups histopathologic findings of organs after systemic candida infection (p> 0.05).Antimicrobial activity of ABS in vitro studies have be reported. But in our study there was no statistically significant differences between the groups. This may result from inadequate dosage and blood / serum concentrations of ABS. In addition, we suggest that the gastrointestinal mucosa injury of rats due to chemotherapy may cause insufficient absorption of oral ABS. In order to examine the in vivo antimicrobial efficacy of ABS we need more extensive studies to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of ABS.