Influence of pectins on preparation characteristics of lactoferrin bioadhesive tablets.

For the treatment of chronic inflammation in the oral cavity, we attempted to develop bioadhesive tablets of bovine lactoferrin (B-LF). Pectin was used as a bioadhesive polymer, and the influence of the degree of esterification and the molecular weight of pectins on the characteristics of B-LF tablets were investigated. Concerning bioadhesive force, a tendency increasing the value according to increase of the esterification of the pectin was confirmed. Sustained release of B-LF from the tablets was observed as the esterification increased, and a possibility for prediction of the time required to release 50% of B-LF by using the equation given by the degree of esterification and the logarithm of the molecular weight was suggested. Pectin cross-linked with Ca(2+) (Ca-PC) was also used for the preparation of the B-LF tablets. Prolonged release of B-LF from the tablets was observed as the Ca(2+) in Ca-PC increased. Our findings suggest that pectin with a high degree of esterification is suitable as a bioadhesive polymer since high bioadhesive force and sustained release are shown. Furthermore, a possibility that the B-LF release could be controlled by adjusting the Ca(2+) concentration in Ca-PC was suggested.

Enteric-formulated lactoferrin was more effectively transported into blood circulation from gastrointestinal tract in adult rats.

We have previously demonstrated that intestinally infused bovine lactoferrin (bLF) is transported into the blood circulation via the lymphatic pathway, not via the portal circulation. Therefore, in the present study, we further investigated whether intragastrically infused enteric-formulated bLF (EF-bLF) was more efficiently absorbed than bLF from the intestine in adult rats. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: 30 and 300 mg kg(-1) non-enteric-formulated bLF (non-EF-bLF) groups and a 30 mg kg(-1) EF-bLF group. Thoracic lymph was collected from a thoracic lymph duct under general anaesthesia. Bovine lactoferrin was infused into the stomach or duodenal lumen via a needle for a period of over 1 min in a volume of 1 ml kg(-1). The bLF transported into the lymph was assayed quantitatively by double-antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Following the intragastric administration of bLF, the three groups showed almost the same lymph flow, but the bLF concentration in the lymph fluid in the EF-bLF group increased significantly and peaked 3 h after administration. With intraduodenal administration, the bLF concentration in the lymph fluid of the higher non-EF-bLF group was significantly higher than those of the other groups. The amount of absorbed bLF in the EF-bLF group was, however, about 10 times higher than that in the lower non-EF-bLF group, when it was administered intragastrically. These data show that enteric-formulated bLF is less susceptible to gastric pepsin and is more efficiently absorbed from the intestine than is non-enteric-formulated bLF.

Isolation of elemental sulfur as a self-growth-inhibiting substance produced by Legionella pneumophila.

The addition of HP-20 resin to a medium could enhance the growth of Legionella species. Elemental sulfur was isolated as a self-growth-inhibiting substance produced endogenously by Legionella pneumophila from methanol extracts of the resins used to culture the bacterium. Elemental sulfur shows strong growth-inhibiting activity toward all Legionella species tested.