In vitro studies of S5682 Interferences with histamine release, LTB4 formatton and free-radical generation

Action of Dation 500 mg on the Principal Inflammatory Mediators

Objective:

To review the in vivo and in vitro studies having elicited an action of Daflon 500 mg*, a purified micronized flavonoid fraction, on inflammatory processes.

Design:

Antioedematous and antichemotactic effects were investigated in rats in three studies. Moreover, the effect of Daflon 500 mg on free radicals, lipoperoxide and arachidonic acid metabolites known as inflammatory mediators was studied mainly in vitro to help understand mechanisms responsible for the anti-inflammatory activity.

Results:

The in vivo studies demonstrated that at the single oral dose of 100 mg/kg, Daflon 500 mg inhibited oedema induced by carrageenan injection into the plantar tissue of a hind paw. On a more chronic inflammatory condition, administered at the same dose during the 15 days preceding subcutaneous implantation of sponges and continued until sacrifice, it reduced granuloma weights (reflecting plasma extravasation) and density of phagocytic cells, and at a dose of 300 mg/kg/day for 1 month it mitigated mononuclear infiltration in the pancreas of diabetic rats. On the other hand, Daflon 500 mg in vitro elicited antiradical activity by inhibition of chemiluminesence, inhibited lipid peroxidation induced after hypoxia/reoxygenation in bovine aorto-endothelial cells and after UVA exposure in human fibroblasts. Besides, Daflon 500 mg decreased leukotriene production in rat stimulated mast cells as well as prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2α) and thromboxane (TxB2) in a granuloma model.

Conclusion:

The effects of Daflon 500 mg on experimental oedema probably result from interference with inflammatory mediators as demonstrated using in vivo and in vitro models, and may serve as a rational basis to explain its efficacy in diseases such as chronic venous insufficiency and more specifically in haemorrhoidal attacks.

The Beneficial Augmentative Effect of Micronised Purified Flavonoid Fraction (MPFF) on the Healing of Leg Ulcers: An Open, Multicentre, Controlled, Randomised Study

Objective:

To determine the increase in healing rate of venous ulcer in patients receiving a micronised purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF) as supplementation to standard local care.

Design:

A randomised, open, controlled, multicentre study.

Setting:

Departments of Dermatology and University Outpatients Clinics.

Patients:

One hundred and forty patients with chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers.

Intervention:

Patients received standard compressive therapy plus external treatment alone or 2 tablets of MPFF daily in addition to the above treatment for 24 weeks.

Main outcome measure:

Healing of ulcers and their reduction in size after 24 weeks of treatment.

Results:

The percentage of patients whose ulcers healed completely was found to be markedly higher in those receiving MPFF in addition to standard external and compressive treatment than in those treated with conventional therapy alone (46.5% vs 27.5%; p<0.05, OR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.1–4.6). Ulcers with diameters <3 cm were cured in 71% of patients in the MPFF group and in 50% of patients in the control group, whereas ulcers between 3 and 6 cm in diameter were cured in 60% and 32% of patients ( p<0.05), respectively. The mean reduction in ulcer size was also found to be greater in patients treated with MPFF (80%) than in the control group (65%) ( p<0.05). The cost-effectiveness ratio (cost per healed ulcer) in the MPFF group was €1026.2 compared with €1871.8 in the control group.

Conclusions:

These results indicate that MPFF significantly improves the cure rate in patients with chronic venous insufficiency.