Lymphagogue and pulsatile activities of Daflon 500 mg on canine thoracic lymph duct

An earlier report proved that Daflon 500 mg constituted of 90% diosmin and 10% hesperidin exerts a lymphagogue effect on dogs. The aim of the present work is to investigate whether the lymphagogue effect of Daflon 500 mg is associated with an increase in pulsatile activity of lymphatic vessels. The investigation was carried out on mongrel dogs anaesthetised by pentobarbital (10 mg/kg); the lymph was collected by a fistula on the thoracic lymphatic duct; using this fistula the pulsatile activity of lymphatic vessels was estimated by Campbell and Health methodology. The lymphatic volume was measured every ten-minutes in graduated tubes for 2 hours and the pulsatile component of intralymphatic pressure (MPC) was estimated from measurements of the area (expressed in mm2) enclosed by the part of the tracing due to the pulsatile component during one minute. Daflon 500 mg was intravenously injected after having been dissolved in DMSO + TRIS; three doses were injected: 12.5, 6.25 and 3.125 mg/kg. Regarding the lymphagogue effect, Daflon 500 mg induced an increase in lymphatic flow correlated with the administered doses. The maximal 10-minute period lymphatic flows were 191% (12.5 mg/kg), 171% (6.25 mg/kg) and 91% (3.125 mg/kg); the peak of the effect was, in each case, reached between 20 and 25 minutes after the injection. Regarding the pulsatile activity, Daflon 500 mg induced an increase of MPC. The MPC was correlated with the increase in lymph flow (r = 0.877).