Colonization by diatoms and antirheumatic activity of thermal mud.

We have identified diatoms among other thermophilic microorganisms as the main agents for the colonization of thermal mud resulting in a 'maturation' which renders the mud suitable to be used for mud-pack treatment of osteoarthrosis patients. The main effects of the diatom growth are the progressive enrichment of mud extracts in chlorophyll a parallel to the building up of a sulfoglycolipid endowed with an anti-inflammatory action. The sulfoglycolipid was also produced by diatoms isolated from the mud and cultivated in vitro.