Anti-inflammatory activity of Debaryomyces hansenii Cu,Zn-SOD

Background. Cu,Zn-superoxide-dismutase, Cu,Zn-SOD, can be obtained from dif ferent sources with different anti-inflammatory activities. In this study w e compared the antiinflammatory capacity of the marine yeast Debaryomyces h anseii Cu,Zn-SOD (Dh-SOD) with that of bovine erythrocytes (Be-SOD) in a pr eventive and a therapeutic fashion. Methods. Edema was induced by carrageenan injection into the rat hind paw a nd was evaluated using a mercury plethysmograph. Development of the inflamm atory process was followed by volume displacement at time 0 (carrageenan in jection), 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 1,000 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 an d amplification phases (-24.8% and -17.5% in the case of Be-SOD, and 11.8% and -18.7% 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% in the serotonin phase; -19.4% in the prostaglandin phase; and -20% in the amplification phase) (p <0.05), but Dh-SOD was less effective (-10.9%, -9.1 %, and -5.7%). At the highest dose tested (1000 U/kg), Dh-SOD was, again, m ore effective than Be-SOD in all three edema phases (-33.1% and - 1.5%; -17 .9% and -2.6%; and -13.8% and 6.7%, 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% and -23.5%, 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. (C) 1999 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Science Inc.