Radiation Sterilization of Drugs. II : Chlorophyll Derivatives (2)

Abstract

Effects of ⁶⁰Co γ-rays irradiation on the median lethal dose, leukocyte mobilizing action and other pharmacological properties of chlorophyll derivatives were studied using male mice (DDY strain) and rabbits. Cu-chlorophyll, M-Co-chloropyll and DBI-Co-chlorophyll in solid state were irradiated with 3 Mrad ⁶⁰Co γ-rays. The median lethal dose of the irradiated and nonirradiated Cu-chlorophyll by the intraperitoneal injection was determined to be 0.773±0.016 mg/g (body weight of mouse) and 0.769±0.016 mg/g, respectively. Intravenous administration of chlorophyll derivatives to normal rabbits caused a remarkable leukocytosis (mainly due to neutrophilia) at 3 to 5 hours after injection, and no significant difference in the leukocyte mobilizing action between the irradiated and nonirradiated samples was observed. From these results, the possibility of practical application of radiation to the sterilization of drugs was discussed.