Abstract

Surface active agents have been used in pharmaceutical formulations for different purposes, so the study of the effect of these agent on biological membranes is necessary. The aim of this study is the evaluation of aqueous extract of Tribulus terrestris L., Trigonella foenum-graecum L. and Echium amoenum Fisch, that contain saponins on red blood cells (RBC) as a model of biological membranes. Also some physicochemical properties of the extracts including emulsification index (E₂₄) and foam producing activity (F_h) were investigated. The aqueous extracts were prepared by maceration and then lyophilized. The different concentration of extracts in McIvan’s buffer solution were incubated with RBC in different temperatures (25 and 37°C) for different time periods (15 and 30 min). The absorbance of the samples by UV spectrophotometer determmine the degree of hemolysis. In comparison of three studied extracts, T. terrestris L, have shown the highest hemolytic effect (12.45% in 37°C and 30 min). The values of E₂₄ and F_h showed the extract of T. terrestris L. has the highest emulsification index (24.89%) and the highest foam producing activity (14.42 mm). The extract of H. persicum, with lower hemolytic effect may be preferred in pharmaceutical preparation but if the hemolytic effect was excluded, A. dracunculus is preferred.

Key words: Echium amoenum, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Tribulus terrestris, biological membrane, hemolysis.