Anti-Inflammatory activity od debaryomyces hansenii Cu, Zn-SOD

Background. Cu,Zn-superoxide-dismutase, Cu,Zn-SOD, can be obtained from different sources with different anti-inflammatory activities. In this study we compared the antiinflammatory capacity of the marine yeast Debaryomyces hanseii Cu,Zn-SOD (Dh-SOD) with that of bovine erythrocytes (Be-SOD) in preventive an a therapeutic fashion. Methods. Edema was induced by carrageenan injection into the rat hind paw and was evaluated using a mercury plethysmograph. Development of the inflammatory process was followed by volume displacement at time 0 (carrageenan injection), 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 12, and 24 h thereafter. Three different SOD doses were used in preliminary experiments to prevent edema: 10, 100, and U/kg. Results. The results indicate that, at the lowest dose (10 U/kg), both SOD samples are effective in reducing inflammation in both the prostaglandin and amplification phases (-24.8 percent and -17.5 percent in the case of Be-SOD, and 11.8 percent and -18.7 percent in the case of Dh-SOD, respectively) (p<0.05). At 100 U/kg, Be-SOD also shows good anti-inflammatory activity in all edema phases (-27.1 percent in the serotonin phase; -19.4 percent in the prostaglandin phase; and -20 percent in the amplification phase) (p<0.05), but Dh-SOD was less effective (-10.9 percent, -9.1 percent, and -5.7 percent). At the highest dose tested (1000 U/kg), Dh-SOD was, again more effective than Be-SOD in all three edema phases (-33.1 percent and -1.5 percent; -17.9 percent and -2.6 percent; and -13.8 percent and 6.7 percent, respectively) (p >0.05). When evaluated as a therapeutic alternative, single doses of DH-SOD at 1,000 U/kg, and Be-SOD at 100 U/kg, both showed good anti-inflammatory activities (-31.7 percent and -23.5 percent, respectively) (p < 0.05). Conclusion. For therapy purposes alone, DH-SOD appears to be a better anti-inflammatory agent than Be-SOD in carrageenan-induced edema

Protective effect of 6-MFA, a fungal interferon inducer against Japanese encephalitis virus in bonnet macaques.

6-MFA, an extract from the fungus Aspergillus ochraceus was administered to 8 bonnet macaques. An equal number of monkeys matched for age, sex and weight received placebo and served as controls. Twenty hours after the administration of the 6-MFA/placebo the monkeys were challenged with an Indian strain of Japanese encephalitis virus by the intranasal route. Signs and symptoms of the disease such as fever, tremors, loss of appetite, dehydration, flaccid paraplegia or quadriplegia were pronounced in all the control monkeys, while in the 6-MFA treated group only two developed symptoms. Virus could be isolated from only one of the 6-MFA treated monkeys on day 6, and from four control monkeys; one each from CSF, spinal cord, blood and from both nasal swab and blood of the fourth monkey. The appearance of HI and N antibodies in 6-MFA treated group was either delayed or completely suppressed. The results indicate that 6-MFA is a potential antiviral agent which can be used to reduce the morbidity and mortality in bonnet macaques (Macaca radiata) experimentally infected with Japanese encephalitis virus.