Snail Mucin Research Articles

Evaluation of Glucosamine and Snail Mucin on the Progression of Experimental Knee Osteoarthritis in Dogs

Se evaluaron los efectos de la glucosamina oral y la inyeccion intramuscular (IM) de mucina de caracol en la progresion de la osteoartritis (OA) experimental en perros. Fueron utilizados 20 perros mestizos adultos con un peso medio de 12,4±1,8 kg. La OA experimental se indujo quirurgicamente mediante el modelo de ranura. Los animales se dividieron aleatoriamente en tres grupos despues de la evidencia radiografica de OA. El grupo 1 (control, 10 perros) fue tratado con una solucion salina normal dos veces por semana durante cuatro semanas. El grupo 2 (5 perros) fue tratado con 10 mg/kg de glucosamina oral al dia por cuatro semanas, y el grupo 3 (5 perros) fue tratado con 5 mg/kg IM de una solucion de mucina de caracol al 5% dos veces por semana durante cuatro semanas. Se obtuvieron muestras de sangre desde la vena cefalica previo a la artrotomia quirurgica, despues de la artrotomia e inmediatamente despues de la confirmacion radiografica de OA (semana 0), y en el intervalo de dos semanas hasta cuatro semanas de tratamiento. La eficacia de los farmacos se evaluo por los cambios plasmaticos de IL-6 y MMP-3, mientras que la seguridad, se determino por los cambios en el volumen del hematocrito (VH), el recuento total de globulos blancos (RGB), y la observacion de reacciones adversas asociadas a la administracion de farmacos. El VH y RGB no difirieron significativamente (P>0,05) en el grupo control. Los niveles de IL-6 y MMP-3 plasmatica fueron significativamente mas bajas (P 0,05) en la IL-6 y MMP-3 entre los dos grupos de tratamiento. Ademas, se observo un edema doloroso en el sitio de inyeccion de los perros tratados con mucina de caracol. En los perros tratados con glucosamina oral no se observo reaccion adversa. Se concluye que tanto la glucosamina oral y la inyeccion IM de mucina de caracol modifican comparablemente la progresion de OA. Sin embargo, debido a la reaccion adversa observada con la inyeccion IM de mucina caracol, se necesitan estudios adicionales para determinar la via de administracion mas adecuada.

Thermal characterisation of PEGylated mucin

Objective To investigate the characteristics of PEGylated mucin and its potential usage. Methods Mucin was extracted from giant African land snails and PEGylated mucin was prepared with different ratios of PEG 2000-Mwt and mucin (1 : 1, 0 : 1, 2 : 1, 1 : 3 and 3 : 1 to form batch A-E) using solvent technique. The physicochemical properties of mucin were identified and the solubility of mucin was assessed. The thermal properties of PEGylated mucin were measured by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Results Carbohydrates, proteins and trace amounts of fats were present in snail mucin. The mucin powder was water-soluble at 30°C and more water-soluble at 35°C, but not soluble; in acetone, ethanol, 0.1 M NaOH, 0.1M H 2SO 4 and 0.1 NH 4OH was water-soluble. The melting point T m ranged from 58.58 °C to 61.17 °C, crystallization temperature Tc 37.08 °C to 39.83 °C, and glass transition temperature Tg 126.85 °C to 138.39 °C. The variation in T m, T c, and T g with the composition in the PEGylaton showed that an interaction between PEG and mucin occured. Conclusions This result can serve as a basis for further evaluation of the PEGylation method and be used for drug delivery.

Evaluation of the Cytoprotective Effects of the Formulation Variables of Snail Mucin and Cimetidine in Rats

The cytoprotective effect of four formulations (Batch A, Batch B, Batch C and Batch D) of snail mucin and cimetidine were evaluated using three animal (albino rats) models (indomethacin, histamine and stressinduced ulcer models). Results show that the cytoprotective effect of the formulation variables increased with increase in the concentration of snail mucin extract. The negative control which was Tween 85 had no significant effect on the ulcer (p<0.05). This suggests that a combination of snail mucin and cimetidine in drug delivery may have some therapeutic importance and should be properly harnessed.

The Effect of Snail Mucin on the Ulcer Healing Rate of Clarithromycin

The effect of mucin on the ulcer-healing rate of clarithromycin has been investigated. The snail mucin extract was obtained from the giant African snail, Achatina achatina (Family Arionidae). The mucin was precipitated with acetone, collected and air-dried. Ulcers were induced with indomethacin in rats. The ulcer-healing rate was determined for clarithromycin alone, mucin alone and the combination of both. The control group did not receive any of the drugs. The results showed that the healing rate of clarithromycin alone was less than the healing rate achieved with clarithromycin and mucin combinations. The healing rate increased with increasing concentration of mucin. It was also observed that the ulcer-healing rate of mucin alone was higher than the healing rate of clarithromycin alone.

Evaluation Of Snail Mucin Dispersed In &lt;i&gt;Brachystegia&lt;/i&gt; Gum Gel As A Wound Healing Agent

Snail mucin was obtained from the mucilage of Archachatina marginata (Family Arionidae). The wound healing effect of the snail mucin was evaluated wth special attention to the effect when combined with honey in Brachystegia eurychoma gel preparation. Brachystegia eurycoma gum, snail mucin and honey were combined in different concentrations in the treatment of wound madeby excision model in rats. It was observed that mucin when combined with honey and in the Brachystegia eurycoma gel heals faster than when used alone. Brachystegia eurycoma gum was also observed to effect fast healing of the wounds when used alone. Complete healing was observed in 15 days post treatment. Honey in combination with mucin as well as the Brachystegia eurycoma gel should be harnessed in pharmaceutical formulations for the treatment of wounds Brachystegia eurycoma gum in right combinations with mucin and honey for wound healing, prevents bacteria infecion, scar formation and promotes regeneration of hair follicles. Keywords : Snail mucin, Honey, Brachystegia eurychoma gum, Gel, Wound healing Animal Research International Vol. 4 (2) 2007 pp. 685-697

Application of snail mucin dispersed in detarium gum gel in wound healing

This study is aimed at describing the effects of snail mucin dispersed in detarium gum gel on wound healing in rats. The gels were prepared from a mixture of snail mucin and honey and the detraium gum gel. A similar gel containing only the mucin was also formulated. It was observed that the gels containing both the snail mucin and the honey had greater healing effect than the gel containing the mucin alone. Complete wound healing was observed on day 13 in all the cases studied with mucin and honey combinations and over 80 percent healing was achieved for all the cases with mucin alone dispersed in the gum gel. Key words: Snail mucin, honey, detarium gum, gel, wound healing.

Some physiological and toxicological properties of snail mucin extracted from &lt;i&gt;Archachatina marginata&lt;/i&gt;

Some physiological and toxicological properties of snail mucin extracted from &lt;i&gt;Archachatina marginata&lt;/i&gt;

Evaluation of snail mucin as bioadhesive agent for the delivery of chlorpropamide

Evaluation of snail mucin as bioadhesive agent for the delivery of chlorpropamide

Evaluation of Snail Mucin Motifs as Rectal Absorption Enhancer for Insulin in Non-Diabetic Rat Models

The use of snail mucin motifs as rectal absorption enhancer for insulin has been evaluated. The mucin motifs were extracted from the giant African snail Archachatina marginata by differential precipitation with acetone. The mucin motifs were found to have a molecular weight of 5780 Da and an isoelectric point of 3.4. At the concentrations evaluated, the mucin exhibited rectal absorption enhancing property for the administration of insulin in rats. The % basal blood glucose level of the rats that received the batch of suppositories containing no mucin were consistently above 100% except at the ninetieth minute when it came down slightly to 97.2%. Rats dosed with the batch containing 7%w/w suppositories showed the greatest blood glucose reduction with mean % basal blood glucose concentration of 61.2%. Batches of the suppository containing 5% and 7% mucin showed more marked and consistent lowering in blood glucose concentration than the other batches containing lower amounts of the rectal absorption enhancer. The batch with 7% mucin reduced the basal glucose level to 44% within 2 h of administration of the glycero-gelatin suppository loaded mucin.