Biology

BIOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF NATURAL BENTONITES AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE LIVE ORGANISM

Semenenko M. P., D.Sc. (veterinary), Kuzminova E.V., Zholobova I.S.

Krasnodar research veterinary institute, Krasnodar, Russia.

Аnnotation. This review summarizes the basic properties and mechanisms of action of natural bentonites and their influence on live organism and also shows the possibility of their use as therapeutic and preventive measures for various pathologies.

Кeywords: bentonite, adsorption, biology, treatment, disease prevention.

Introduction. All life on Earth has developed in close cooperation with its natural surroundings. Bioactive properties of many minerals and rocks have been known since ancient times. They are often used as medicaments and preventive measures for human and domestic animals, especially in oriental medicine. European pharmacology took a different way. It is a way of creating a huge number of pure chemicals. However, at the current stage in pharmacology it is time to use fundamentally new effective medicaments based on natural, environmentally friendly compounds.

Such compounds include bentonite clay – natural aluminosilicate clay minerals, which are characterized by many valuable qualities – high adsorption, catalytic, binding activity, as well as the presence of a number of macro-and micronutrients, which are known as biologically active substances that can have a strong effect on a variety of physiological processes of the organism [3]. That is why on the early stages of studying the influence of bentonites on animals and humans they were treated as a natural multimineral supplement. However, this is not the only and perhaps not the main function of bentonite clays.

Due to the peculiar structure of the crystal lattice bentonites can effectively bind and remove toxic substances from the organism. When they come into contact with live biological material in the intestinal lumen appears a fundamentally new biomineral environment consisting of bentonite particles, toxin molecules and cells of the lymphoid series, grouped around them. Source of lymphoid cells for such artificial anatomical structures are sines of small intestine villi, which are located in the lumen of lymphocytes that actively begin to migrate through the intercellular gap on the surface epithelium when intestinal mucosa contacts the sorbent particles. At the same time they have detoxification and immune function. In the process of adsorption of toxic products in the intestines activates cellular immunity, which is the starting mechanism of introduction into the organism of the absorbent material - bentonite [5].

Moreover the efficiency of such connections’ formation depends on the indicator of ion sorbents capacity. Having a capacity greater than 60 mg / eq per 100 g of dry substance, bentonites actively attract and hold polar functional group of toxin molecules, creating on their basis new structural compounds which due to their larger size can not adsorb by the inner walls of the intestine. Related toxins are fixed on the surface of particles of bentonite which prevents their absorption and distribution in the organism and then excreted in the faeces. [7]. In addition the crystal lattice of bentonite clays is electrically unbalanced that creates an excess negative charge on the adsorbent surface, which significantly increases its ability to accumulate ions with positive charges. That is why they are well remove an oxidized products and harmful gases of metabolism from the intestinal and actively recover ammonia nitrogen, heavy metals and radionuclides [2].

Due to mobile lattice, large active surface, the exchange capacity and range of these parameters, sorption capacity of bentonites may increase by 10-15 times, that makes them one of the most effective adsorbents.

High absorption capacity of aluminosilicate minerals has a beneficial effect on the processes of digestion and absorption and normalization of intestinal motility. Positive impact of bentonites is caused by maintaining an optimal acidity and medium quantity of pH in digestive tract. Stabilizing organic compounds bentonites slow down the passage rate of food through the gastrointestinal tract, increasing digestibility and biological value of the incoming food [1].

Numerous of studies demonstrated that prophylactic and therapeutic effects from the use of bentonites in the medical and veterinary practice are achieved not only due to their high sorption activity, but also largely due to the presence of more than 40 macro- and microelements, which according to the catalytic activity of bentonites are actively involved in metabolism and they also have a positive impact on the body's physiological processes. Moreover, having the role of a selective ion exchanger bentonites can compensate the shortage or excess toxic amount to remove mineral elements from the organism, adjusting thereby not only the mineral metabolism, but also indirectly influencing all other exchanges [4,6].

Conclusions. It can be concluded that the unique properties of bentonites, their multifunctionality, absence of toxic properties and side effects, as well as environmental friendliness, push them in a number of promising means for preventive maintenance and treatment of different etiology and pathogenesis diseases.

References:

1. Avakian, GS Bentonites of Armenia / G.S. Avakian.: Bentonites. Moscow: Nauka, 1982. – p. 73-104.

2. Bgatov, V.I. Natural sorbents and wildlife / V.I. Bgatov, A.V Bgatov, A.V Wan, A.M Panichev // Materials of the International Symposium. - Novosibirsk. - 1997. p. 36.

3. Vdovenko, N.V Kinetics of formation and properties of organophilic minerals // Bentonites / N.V Vdovenko, S.V Bondarenko, A.I Zhukova / / Moscow: Kolos. - 1980. - p. 147-154.

4. Grim, R.E Mineralogy and the practical use of clay / R.E Grim. - Moscow.: 1967.

5. Grigoriev, V.N Concept of enterosorbents and internal environment of the organism teamwork / V.N Grigoriev // Reports of the scientific-practical. conf., Novosibirsk, 1994. p.12-16.

6. Romanyutin, A.A Healing clay / A.A Romanyutin, R.R Nazarevich // Medicine of Ukraine. - 1995. Nr 2. - P.24.

7. Eirish, M.V Crystal chemical and structural features of montmorillonite and their influence on the properties of bentonite clay / M.V Eirish, Z.N Eirish, V.M Bezzubov, N.V Evdokimov, E.N Permyakov. - "Bentonite." - Moscow: "Nauka." - 1980. - 117-125 p.