An alarming biochemical side effect of Teucrium polium on the plasma membrane alkaline phosphatase of k562 cell line

The unexpected enhancement of alkalinee phosphatase (ALP) activity in the serum of a group of STZ-diabetic rats recieving the Teucrium polium extract (with hypoglycaemic property) may be attributed to its probable side effects. In order to get a more precise knowledge about this subject, we evaluated the effect of T. polium extract on the plasma membrane ALP activity of K562 cell line. Our data indicated that upon treatment of cells with a single effective dose of T. polium extract, the ALP activity in the cultured medium increased by 20%, while the matching activity in the plasma membrane of the same cell decreased 20%. These observations clearly indicate that T. polim is capable of damaging the plasma membrane by enhancing the solubilization of one of its major components, ALP. Regarding the medical significance of ALP and these data the pharmaceutical consumption of T. polium extract, as a hypoglycaemic aid, should be carefully supervised by medical personals