Effect of an extract of cauliflower (leaf) on the labeling of blood elements with technetium-99m and on the survival of Escherichia coli AB1157 submitted to the treatment with stannous chloride.

The labeling of red blood cells (RBC) with technetium-99m (99mTc) depends on a reducing agent and stannous chloride (SnCl(2)) and is widely utilized. This labeling may also be altered by drugs, and SnCl(2) reduces the survival of Escherichia coli cultures. Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis) is used in folk medicine and we evaluated its influence on (i) the labeling of blood elements with 99mTc, and (ii) on the survival of an E. coli strain. Blood was withdrawn from rats that drank the extract of cauliflower (15 days). Blood was incubated with SnCl(2) and with 99mTc, as sodium pertechnetate, centrifuged and plasma (P) and RBC were isolated. Samples of P and RBC were also precipitated, centrifuged and soluble and insoluble fractions isolated. E. coli culture was treated with SnCl(2) in the presence of cauliflower. The extract of cauliflower did not alter the fixation of 99mTc on blood fractions; however, it abolished the lethal effect of SnCl(2) on the E. coli culture. We suggest that the substances present in the extract of cauliflower probably, would have redox property with different mechanisms of action. The oxidant action of the substances of the extract would not be strong enough to oxidise the stannous ions altering the 99mTc-labeling. However, the referred substances could oxidise these ions sufficiently to protect the E. coli culture against the lethal effect of the stannous ion.