Anti-inflammatory activity of 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 anti-inflammatory capacity of the marine yeast Debaryomyces hanseii Cu,Zn-SOD (Dh-SOD) with that of bovine erythrocytes (Be-SOD) in a preventive and 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 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 and 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 phase (-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, more 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.