Vitamin U, a novel free radical scavenger, prevents lens injury in rats administered with valproic acid.

Valproic acid (2-propyl-pentanoic acid, VPA) is the most widely prescribed antiepileptic drug due to its ability to treat a broad spectrum of seizure types. VPA exhibits various side effects such as organ toxicity, teratogenicity, and visual disturbances. S-Methylmethioninesulfonium is a derivative of the amino acid methionine and it is widely referred to as vitamin U (Vit U). This study was aimed to investigate the effects of Vit U on lens damage parameters of rats exposed to VPA. Female Sprague Dawley rats were divided into four groups. Group I comprised control animals. Group II included control rats supplemented with Vit U (50 mg/kg/day) for 15 days. Group III was given only VPA (500 mg/kg/day) for 15 days. Group IV was given VPA + Vit U (in same dose and time). Vit U was given to rats by gavage and VPA was given intraperitoneally. On the 16th day of experiment, all the animals which were fasted overnight were killed. Lens was taken from animals, homogenized in 0.9% saline to make up to 10% (w/v) homogenate. The homogenates were used for protein, glutathione, lipid peroxidation levels, and antioxidant enzymes activities. Lens lipid peroxidation levels and aldose reductase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities were increased in VPA group. On the other hand, glutathione levels, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, glutathione-S-transferase, and paraoxonase activities were decreased in VPA groups. Treatment with Vit U reversed these effects. This study showed that Vit U exerted antioxidant properties and may prevent lens damage caused by VPA.

Effects of Zn(II) complex with vitamins C and U, and carnitine on metabolic syndrome model rats.

The insulinomimetic activity of a Zn(ii) complex is reported. The effects of the Zn(ii) complex with ascorbic acid (Vitamin C; VC), methylmethionine sulfonium chloride (Vitamin U; VU) and l-carnitine were assessed in diet-induced metabolic syndrome model rats. Zn(VU)(2)Cl(2) and Zn(VC)Cl(2) were suggested to be useful supplementary materials for preventing metabolic syndrome by reducing visceral adipose tissues or accelerating blood fluidity.

Effect of s-methylmethionine sulphonium chloride on oesophagogastric ulcers in pigs.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the value of s-methylmethionine sulphonium chloride (SMMSC) (200 mg/kg) on nutritional performance of pigs and as prevention or therapy for oesophagogastric ulcers. DESIGN: Sixty pigs from a high health status herd with continuing oesophagogastric ulcer problems were endoscopically assessed for the presence or absence of oesophagogastric ulcers. Forty-eight pigs were then selected and allocated according to an initial oesophagogastric epithelial (ulcer score) classification to replicated treatment groups in a 2 x 2 factorial design. Weight gain and feed intake were measured over 49 d, after which pigs were killed and stomachs were collected, re-examined and scored for oesophagogastric ulceration. RESULTS: There was no difference over the 49 d in weight gain, feed intake and backfat in pigs with and without SMMSC supplementation between pigs with or without fully developed oesophagogastric ulcers at the start of the study. In pigs with an initially low ulcer score, feeding SMMSC did not prevent further oesophagogastric ulcer development. No significant effect of SMMSC was apparent when final mean oesophagogastric ulcer scores were compared in pigs with existing high ulcer score. However, further analysis of the changes in individual pig oesophagogastric ulcer scores during the experiment showed that the observed reductions in scores of the high ulcer group was significantly different from all other groups. CONCLUSION: This study has indicated that supplementation of pig diets with SMMSC cannot be justified unless the slight ulcer score improvement observed could be translated to some commercial production advantage such as a reduction in pig mortalities due to oesophagogastric ulcers. This study has further confirmed the benefit of endoscopy as a tool to enable objective assessment of oesophageal gastric health.

[Studying the anti-ulcer activity of gastrobiol].

Gastrobiol--a new preparation comprising a mixture of lyophilized sea-buckthorn oil, vitamin U, and magnesium oxide, produces a pronounced antiulcerous action on the mucous membrane of the stomach and duodenum. The regenerative effect of gastrobiol is more pronounced than that of pure sea-buckthorn oil and methyluracil.

[The anti-ulcer action of dibunol (Tonarol)]. / Protivoiazvennoe deistvie dibunola (tonarola).

In experimental study of antiulcerative activity of dibunol on various models of gastric ulcers in rats the drug caused a marked antiulcerative effect in all of them, reduced the incidence of ulcer formation, and shortened the time of ulcer healing. In a model of "acetic" ulcer dibunol oil solution led to quick normalization of lipid peroxidation in the gastric mucosa, which was evidence of high antioxidant activity in cases of ulcer lesions.

Role of sulphydryl-containing agents in the management of recurrent attacks of ulcerative colitis. A new approach.

This double-blind randomised study investigated the role of sulphydryl-containing agents in the management of recurrent attacks of ulcerative colitis. To this end, DL-cysteine (200 mg 4 times daily) and DL-methionine-methyl sulphonium chloride (MMSC, 500 mg 4 times daily) were administered orally. Patients with recurrent attacks of moderate proctosigmoidal ulcerative colitis, despite prophylaxis by oral sulphasalazine (2 g daily), were given prednisolone by mouth, 10 mg four times a day, sulphasalazine by mouth, 500 mg four times a day, and morning and evening retention enema (Predsol 20 mg) alone or with cysteine or MMSC. After 2 weeks of treatment with sulphasalazine and prednisolone, 51% of patients (n = 45) were symptom free. Addition of cysteine (n = 46) or MMSC (n = 47) to this regimen controlled the symptoms within 2 weeks in 85% of patients (p < 0.01). During 12 months of prophylactic treatment, 5% of patients (n = 42) receiving sulphasalazine (2 g daily) and cysteine and 5% of patients (n = 41) taking sulphasalazine (2 g daily) and MMSC relapsed, relative to 27% of cases with sulphasalazine (2 g daily) alone (p < 0.01). These results demonstrate that sulphydryl-containing agents play a key role in the treatment of and protection against ulcerative colitis.

[Anti-ulcer action of the sodium salt of N-(4-sulfolanol-3-yl) methionine]. / Protivoiazvennoe deistvie natrievoi soli N-(4-sul'folanol-3-il) metionina.

Sodium salt of N-(4-solfolanol-3-yl)methionine studied on 13 models of gastric ulcers in rats was shown to have antiulcerative activity both during preventive and therapeutic use as well as the capability to prevent and abolish the ulcerogenic effect of some drugs.