Use of polar solvents in chemoprevention of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine-induced colon cancer

Methylsulfonylmethane: Applications and Safety of a Novel Dietary Supplement

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) has become a popular dietary supplement used for a variety of purposes, including its most common use as an anti-inflammatory agent. It has been well-investigated in animal models, as well as in human clinical trials and experiments. A variety of health-specific outcome measures are improved with MSM supplementation, including inflammation, joint/muscle pain, oxidative stress, and antioxidant capacity. Initial evidence is available regarding the dose of MSM needed to provide benefit, although additional work is underway to determine the precise dose and time course of treatment needed to provide optimal benefits. As a Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) approved substance, MSM is well-tolerated by most individuals at dosages of up to four grams daily, with few known and mild side effects. This review provides an overview of MSM, with details regarding its common uses and applications as a dietary supplement, as well as its safety for consumption.

Enhancement of antitumor activity of the oxazaphosphorine cytostatic SUM-IAP by N-methylformamide

PURPOSE

SUM-IAP has been developed with the aim to optimize therapeutic response and minimize toxic reactions of oxazaphosphorine cytostatics. In therapy tests in mice, the primary tumor was successfully eradicated, but animals died due to formation of lethal metastases. We supposed that high activities of SUM-IAP detoxifying enzymes caused metastasis formation in the liver. Therefore, therapy tests with SUM-IAP in combination with cisplatin and N-methylformamide (NMF), which were not detoxified in the liver, were carried out.

METHOD

Antitumor activity was assayed in female CD2F1 mice with advanced subcutaneously growing P388 mice leukemia cells.

RESULT

The results of the therapy tests with SUM-IAP plus cisplatin were as expected: No formation of metastases and long-time survival of more than 100 days were observed; however, the toxicity was increased as measured by decrease in body weight and the number in leukocytes. The results of the tests in combination with NMF were surprising: Applying only half the dose of SUM-IAP used in the experiments with cisplatin, no metastases were found and long-time survivors did not show signs of additional toxicity.

CONCLUSION

NMF strongly enhances the antitumor activity of the oxazaphosphorine cytostatic SUM-IAP in mice with subcutaneously growing P388 mice leukemia cells by an unknown mechanism of action.

Hepatoprotective effect of methylsulfonylmethane against carbon tetrachloride-induced acute liver injury in rats

This study evaluated the effect of methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) on carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄)-induced acute liver injury in rats. A single injection of CCl₄ (2 ml/kg, i.p.) increased serum aminotransferases (ALT and AST) activities. In addition, CCl₄ treatment led to elevation of hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) content as well as decrease in superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. Furthermore, cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) content was suppressed while proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels increased in liver tissue after CCl4 administration. We showed that acute CCl₄-induced damage was accompanied by a rise in Bax/Bcl₂ ratio indicating apoptosis. Pre-treatment with MSM (400 mg/kg) inhibited the increases of serum ALT and AST activities, decreased hepatic MDA, TNF-α, IL-6 and Bax/Bcl₂ ratio compared to CCl₄ treated group. On the other hand, MSM raised SOD and CAT activities as well as CYP2E1 level in liver tissues. The present study shows that MSM possesses a hepatoprotective effect against CCl₄-induced liver injury in rats. This protective effect might be through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic properties.

Assessment of safety and efficacy of methylsulfonylmethane on bone and knee joints in osteoarthritis animal model

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), which is one of the popular ingredients of so-called health foods in Japan, is expected to relieve inflammation in arthritis and allergies. However, there is no scientific evidence to confirm the efficacy and safety of MSM in detail. In this study, we examined the effects of MSM on cartilage formation in growing rats (G) and cartilage degradation in STR/Ort mice (A), an accepted human osteoarthritis (OA) model. For cartilage formation study, 6-week-old growing male Wister rats were assigned to four groups to receive a control or MSM-containing diet. To examine the efficacy of MSM on the cartilage of OA model mouse, 10-week-old male STR/OrtCrlj mice were assigned to three groups to receive a control or MSM-containing diet. The dosages used were amounts equal to the recommended supplements for humans [0.06 g/kg body weight (BW)/day: MSM1G and MSM1A], 10 fold higher (0.6 g/kg BW/day: MSM10G and MSM10A), and 100 fold higher (6 g/kg BW/day: MSM100G). Intake of MSM for 4 weeks did not affect cartilage formation in the knee joint in growing rats. Body, liver, and spleen weight in the MSM100G group were significantly lower than those in the control group. Intake of MSM for 13 weeks decreased degeneration of the cartilage at the joint surface in the knee joints in STR/Ort mice in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that appropriate intake of MSM is possibly effective in OA model mice; however, intake of large amounts of MSM induced atrophy of several organs.

Influence of methylsulfonylmethane on markers of exercise recovery and performance in healthy men: a pilot study

Background

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) has been reported to provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects in both animal and man. Strenuous resistance exercise has the potential to induce both inflammation and oxidative stress. Using a pilot (proof of concept) study design, we determined the influence of MSM on markers of exercise recovery and performance in healthy men.

Methods

Eight, healthy men (27.1 ± 6.9 yrs old) who were considered to be moderately exercise-trained (exercising <150 minutes per week) were randomly assigned to ingest MSM at either 1.5 grams per day or 3.0 grams per day for 30 days (28 days before and 2 days following exercise). Before and after the 28 day intervention period, subjects performed 18 sets of knee extension exercise in an attempt to induce muscle damage (and to be used partly as a measure of exercise performance). Sets 1–15 were performed at a predetermined weight for 10 repetitions each, while sets 16–18 were performed to muscular failure. Muscle soreness (using a 5-point Likert scale), fatigue (using the fatigue-inertia subset of the Profile of Mood States), blood antioxidant status (glutathione and Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity [TEAC]), and blood homocysteine were measured before and after exercise, pre and post intervention. Exercise performance (total work performed during sets 16–18 of knee extension testing) was also measured pre and post intervention.

Results

Muscle soreness increased following exercise and a trend was noted for a reduction in muscle soreness with 3.0 grams versus 1.5 grams of MSM (p = 0.080), with a 1.0 point difference between dosages. Fatigue was slightly reduced with MSM (p = 0.073 with 3.0 grams; p = 0.087 for both dosages combined). TEAC increased significantly following exercise with 3.0 grams of MSM (p = 0.035), while homocysteine decreased following exercise for both dosages combined (p = 0.007). No significant effects were noted for glutathione or total work performed during knee extension testing (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

MSM, especially when provided at 3.0 grams per day, may favorably influence selected markers of exercise recovery. More work is needed to extend these findings, in particular using a larger sample of subjects and the inclusion of additional markers of exercise recovery and performance.

Effect of chronic supplementation with methylsulfonylmethane on oxidative stress following acute exercise in untrained healthy men

OBJECTIVE

This study was conducted to assess the effects of chronic daily methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) supplementation on known markers of oxidative stress following acute bouts of exercise in untrained healthy young men.

METHODS

Eighteen untrained men volunteered for this study. Participants were randomized in a double-blind placebo-controlled fashion into two groups: MSM (n = 9) and placebo (n = 9). The participants took supplementation or placebo daily for 10 days before running. Participants ran 14 km. The MSM supplementation was prepared in water at 50 mg/kg body weight. The placebo group received water. Serum malondialdehyde (MDA), protein carbonyl (PC) and plasma oxidized glutathione (GSSG) were measured as markers of oxidative stress. The plasma-reduced glutathione (GSH) level and the GSH/GSSG ratio were determined as markers of plasma antioxidant capacity.

KEY FINDINGS

Acute exercise led to elevated levels of serum MDA, PC and plasma GSSG. MSM supplementation maintained PC, MDA and GSSG at lower levels after exercise than the placebo. The plasma level of GSH and the ratio of GSH/GSSG were significantly higher in the MSM supplemented group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that chronic daily oral supplementation of MSM has alleviating effects on known markers of oxidative stress following acute bouts of exercise in healthy young men.

Dimethyl sulphoxide and dimethyl sulphone are potent inhibitors of IL-6 and IL-8 expression in the human chondrocyte cell line C-28/I2

AIMS

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly diffusable and reactive molecules which modulate gene transcription, particularly of pro-inflammatory cytokines which play a crucial role in the nascency and progression of chronic inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA). Since thiols could be potent inhibitors of the production of cytokines, the effects of dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and dimethyl sulphone (DMS) on constitutive and IL-1β-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expression in the human chondrocyte cell line C-28/I2 were evaluated.

MAIN METHODS

C-28/I2 cells were incubated for 12h with different concentrations of DMSO or DMS. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs). The impact of DMSO and DMS on the regulation of p38 and ERK1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) was confirmed by Western blot experiments. Furthermore, C-28/I2 cells were stimulated with IL-1β in the absence or presence of DMSO and DMS and IL-6 and IL-8 expression was quantified by ELISAs and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).

KEY FINDINGS

C-28/I2 cells constitutively expressed large quantities of IL-6 and IL-8. Long-term exposure of cells to DMSO (1%) or DMS (100mM) led to a dramatic downregulation of IL-6 and IL-8 expression which was accompanied by the deactivation of ERK1/2. Both substances also blocked IL-1β-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expression.

SIGNIFICANCE

In this study, we demonstrate that both DMSO and DMS represent strong anti-inflammatory properties by blocking constitutive as well as IL-1β-induced IL-6 and IL-8 expression in the human chondrocyte cell line C-28/I2.

The anti-inflammatory effects of methylsulfonylmethane on lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in murine macrophages

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM), also known as dimethyl sulfone and methyl sulfone, is an organic sulfur-containing compound that occurs naturally in a variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and animals, including humans. In the present study, we demonstrated the anti-inflammatory effects of MSM in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated murine macrophages, RAW264.7 cells. MSM significantly inhibited the release of nitric oxide and prostaglandin E(2) by alleviating the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. Furthermore, the levels of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha were decreased by MSM treatment in cell culture supernatants. Further study indicated that the translocation of the p65 subunit of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB to the nucleus was inhibited by MSM treatment in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells, in which it helped block degradation of inhibitor of NF-kappaB. In addition, in vivo studies demonstrated that topical administration of MSM at 500-1250 microg/ear resulted in similar inhibitory activities in 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-induced mouse ear edema. Collectively, theses results indicate that MSM inhibits LPS-induced release of pro-inflammatory mediators in murine macrophages through downregulation of NF-kappaB signaling.

Herbs or Natural Products That Protect Against Cancer Growth: Part Three of a Four-Part Series

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES

To provide evidence-based research information about 47 herbs and natural products that have the potential to protect against the development of cancer.

DATA SOURCES

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database and Lawrence Review of Natural Products-Monograph System. Information about these herbs has been found in evidence-based studies cited in the references.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Early research shows that some herbs and natural products appear to have the potential to prevent cancer growth.

CONCLUSIONS

This preliminary evidence may be useful to healthcare professionals or patients who are concerned about cancer.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING

Oncology nurses who receive this information can become resources for patients or other healthcare professionals.

Dimethyl sulfoxide delays PrP sc accumulation and disease symptoms in prion-infected hamsters

PrP(Sc), an aberrantly folded protein, is the only identified component of the prion, an agent causing fatal neurodegenerative diseases such as scrapie and bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) has been shown to reduce the accumulation of PrP(Sc) in scrapie-infected (ScN2a) cells, and to inhibit its aggregation in vitro. In humans, DMSO was used successfully in the treatment of various peripheral amyloidotic diseases. Here we show that administration of DMSO to scrapie-infected hamsters significantly prolonged disease incubation time, as well as delayed the accumulation of PrP(Sc) in Syrian hamster brains. Interestingly, administration of DMSO to scrapie sick hamsters resulted in increased clearance of protease-resistant PrP in their urine. We conclude that although DMSO by itself may not be sufficient to cure prion diseases, it may be considered as a component in a 'cocktail' drug approach for these disorders. Also, urine PrP testing should be considered for the assessment of treatment efficacy.

Accumulation of methylsulfonylmethane in the human brain: identification by multinuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a widely available 'alternative' medicine. In vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was used to detect and quantify MSM in the brains of four patients with memory loss and in three normal volunteers all of who had ingested MSM at the recommended doses of 1-3 g daily. MSM was detected in all subjects at concentrations of 0.42-3.40 mmole/kg brain and was equally distributed between gray and white matter. MSM was undetectable in drug-naïve normal subjects (N=25), patients screened for 'toxic exposure' (N=50) or patients examined with 1H MRS for the diagnosis of probable Alzheimer Disease (N=520) between 1991 and 2001. No adverse clinical or neurochemical effects were observed. Appearance of MSM in significant concentrations in the human brain indicates ready transfer across the intact blood-brain barrier, of a compound with no known medical benefits.