ABSTRACT
We are interested for other human metabolites than desoxyfructo-serotonin (DFS), showing antileprosy activity. This is the case of desoxyfructo-5-hydroxytryptophan and of some liposoluble derivatives of DFS. The time of resorption and penetration into M. leprae infected tissue, is very different for these metabolites. For this reason the simultaneous application of these compounds may represent some advantage in the treatment of multibacillar form of leprosy. The use of DFS together with the antileprosy diet "NAL" have the supplementary advantage to stabilize the DFS level in the serum during the treatment.
Subject(s)
5-Hydroxytryptophan/analogs & derivatives , Leprosy/drug therapy , Serotonin/analogs & derivatives , 5-Hydroxytryptophan/metabolism , 5-Hydroxytryptophan/therapeutic use , Animals , Glycosylation , Humans , Leprostatic Agents , Levodopa/analogs & derivatives , Levodopa/therapeutic use , Mice , Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors , Serotonin/metabolism , Serotonin/therapeutic use , Serotonin/toxicity , Tryptophan/analogs & derivativesABSTRACT
Desoxyfructo-serotonin (DFS) being a naturally occurring metabolite, which, like serotonin, has its origin in tryptophane in the food, one can ask about the role of nutrition in leprosy. The unique situation, that a human metabolite shows antileprosy activity, confirmed in vitro and in vivo, makes it possible to develop a "build in" antileprosy therapy. This is now realised through a so-called "Anti-Leprosy Nutriment" (NAL). The effectiveness of this diet was confirmed by the fact, that a daily dose of 0.5 g NAL per mouse has a similar effect, like 20 mg/kg body weight Dapsone per day in the conventionnal mouse foot-pad test. The biosynthesis of DFS in man has been demonstrated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), spectrofluorometry and mass spectrometry. The activity of NAL (rich in tryptophane, unsaturated fatty acids and glucose) is due to an increased biosynthesis of DSF. The latter may be considered as a "physiological protecting agent" against leprosy. This type of food may play a role in the prevention of leprosy in endemic area.
Subject(s)
Indoles/metabolism , Leprosy/metabolism , Serotonin/analogs & derivatives , 5-Hydroxytryptophan/blood , 5-Hydroxytryptophan/urine , Animals , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Diet , Humans , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/blood , Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/urine , Indoles/blood , Indoles/urine , Kinetics , Leprosy/blood , Leprosy/urine , Mice , Serotonin/blood , Serotonin/metabolism , Serotonin/pharmacology , Serotonin/urine , Tryptophan/blood , Tryptophan/urineSubject(s)
Leprosy/drug therapy , Serotonin/analogs & derivatives , Adult , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Serotonin/therapeutic useABSTRACT
In the mouse foot pas, deoxyfructo-serotonin (DFS) shows a definite inhibitory effect on the multiplication of M. leprae in Dapsone-sensitive as well as Dapsone-resistant cases. In clinical trials, based on 7 cases treated with DFS for an average period of 6 months, the beneficial effects of DFS are observed after a few weeks of treatment in BB cases, and after a few months in LL cases. In addition to clear improvements in the appearance of the skin (regression and healing of nodules, almost complete disappearance of infiltration, etc) one observes in the majority of cases a rapid improvement in the bacteriological and morphological indexes, the latter falling to 0%. In the course of these studies, no single suggestion of intolerance was detected.
