Higher cardol homologues (5-alkenylresorcinols) from rye affect the red cell membrane-water transport.

The influence of 5-heptadecenylresorcinol and total rye 5-alkenylresorcinols isolated from rye grains on the red blood cell water permeability was studied using osmotic shrinkage experiments performed in 300 mM sucrose. The studied compounds induced significant increase of erythrocyte water permeability. The threshold concentration needed for the increase of water permeability was in an order of 10(-6) mol/l. The temperature dependence of the observed process showed the discontinuity which was related to the 5-alkenylresorcinol transition temperatures. It was shown also that alkenylresorcinols did not exert the biphasic action on hypotonic lysis of erythrocytes usually observed for water soluble surfactants. The specific lysine activity is postulated for the studied compounds.