Steroids contents of wound healing preparations from the skin of the Arabian Gulf catfish (Arius bilineatus, Val.) (1001.7)

Abstract

The Arabian Gulf catfish secretes copious amounts of epidermal gel‐like material when threatened or injured. The freeze dried gel contained 85% proteins, 14.4% lipids 2.6% nucleic acid components and carbohydrates.Preparations from the skin of the catfish were found to accelerate the rate of wound healing, as well as being potent anti‐inflammatory. The lipids were composed of non‐polar lipids, glycolipids and phospholipids. Analysis of the lipids for steroids using TLC, FTIR, 1HNMR, 13CNMR, GC/MS, and GC/MS/MS showed them to contain 14 steroids, including 12 oxysterols. The following compounds were characterized: cholesterol, 7α‐hydroxy cholesterol, 7β‐hydroxycholesterol, 5,6 epoxycholesterol, 3β‐hydroxycholest‐5‐ene‐7‐one, cholest‐3,5‐diene and cholesta‐3,5‐dien‐7‐one. Progesterone, cholest‐3,5,6‐triol and 4‐cholesten‐3‐one were found as minor components, and were identified by comparing their MS, 1HNMR and FTIR spectral data with those of standards and library data. Cholest‐3,6‐dione, cholesta‐4,6‐diene‐3‐one, cholesta‐2,4‐diene, and cholesta‐5,20(22)‐dien‐3‐ol were found only in trace amounts and were identified by GC/MS and MS and their spectral data were compared with library data. The bile of the catfish was found to contain 6 bile acids and salts. The presence of the oxysteroids together with eicosanoids, platelet activating factors, furan fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids in the skin secretion may help understand the pharmacological and therapeutic activities of the preparations from the skin of the catfish.Grant Funding Source: This project is supported by Research Administration, Kuwait University Grant No. SL04/09