Sterodin, a novel immunostimulating drug: some toxicological and pharmacological evaluations in vivo, and drug-lipid interaction studies in vitro.

Sterodin is a novel non-specific immunostimulating drug produced by a combination of bile lipids and bacterial metabolites. In the present study, we investigated some of its (i) toxicological and (ii) pharmacological properties in vivo, and (iii) drug-lipid interaction (lipid peroxidation) in vitro. We also evaluated the possible (iv) Sterodin-induced lipid peroxidation as well as the effect of ascorbic acid on this peroxidation. We found LD50 of Sterodin to be 31.50 mL kg-1 body mass. In male albino mice, Sterodin increased the total white blood cells and neutrophils count by 59 and 26%, respectively, on the 6th day, compared to day 0 after injection and stimulated phagocytic activity in vivo. We used goat liver as lipid source in drug-lipid interaction studies in vitro. Our experiments show that Sterodin induces lipid peroxidation, which was prevented by ascorbic acid.