Pain Controlling and Cytokine-regulating Effects of Lyprinol, a Lipid Extract of Perna Canaliculus, in a Rat Adjuvant-induced Arthritis Model

Using an adjuvant-induced arthritis rat model, we investigated the effects of a lipid extract of Perna canaliculus (Lyprinol®) on pain. Radiological examinations, as well as levels of pro- and anti-inflammatory (AI) cytokines, were measured aiming to provide independent objective data to the pain controlling investigation. We confirmed the ability of Lyprinol® to control pain at the initial phase of its administration; with similar efficacy to that observed with Naproxen. The pain scores slowly increased again in the group of rats treated with Lyprinol® after day 9–14. The Naproxen-treated rats remained pain-free while treated. Both Naproxen and Lyprinol® decreased the levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IFN-γ, and increased that of IL-10. Extra-virgin olive oil was ineffective on cytokine secretion. Rats treated with Lyprinol® were apparently cured after 1 year. This study confirms the AI efficacy of this lipid extract of P. canaliculus, its initial analgesic effect, its perfect tolerance and its long-term healing properties

In vitro modulation of inflammatory cytokine and IgG levels by extracts of Perna canaliculus

BACKGROUND: Inflammation is a predominant characteristic of autoimmune diseases which is characterized by the increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Soon to be published work from our laboratory has shown that ingestion of Perna canaliculus prevents the development of autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis in laboratory animals. The current paper attempts to illustrate how Perna can alleviate inflammation by modulating inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase enzymes and Immunoglobulin-G (IgG) levels. METHODS: In the present study, hydrochloric acid [HCl] and Tween-20 were used to develop extracts of Perna. These extracts were assayed for protein content. Increasing concentrations of these extracts were then tested in cell culture for modulation of inflammatory cytokine, cyclooxygenase enzymes and IgG levels. Parallel tests were run using an available glycogen extract of Perna as a comparison to our in-house laboratory preparations. RESULTS: Tween-20 Perna extracts were found to be more stable and less toxic in cell culture than HCl digest of Perna. They also assayed higher in protein content that HCl extracts. Although both extracts inhibited IgG production in V2E9 hybridomas, Tween-20 extracts were more consistent in IgG suppression than HCl extracts. Overall Tween-20 extracts effectively decreased levels of TNF-α, IL-1, IL-2 and IL-6 as observed using cytokine bioassays. Twenty micrograms of Tween-20 Perna extracts induced such significant decreases in inflammatory cytokine production that when tested on sensitive cell lines, they very nearly abolished the decrease in viability induced by these cytokines. Tween-20 extracts effectively inhibited both COX-1 and COX-2 cyclooxygenase activity. As a comparison, the glycogen extract also demonstrated a similar though weaker effect on COX-1 and COX-2 enzymes. The active components of both extracts (Tween-20 and glycogen) were observed to possess molecular weights above 100 kDa. Although the anti-cytokine activity of the Tween-20 extract was destroyed by Proteinase-K treatment, the anti-COX-1 and anti-COX-2 activity of both the extracts were not sensitive to protease treatment. CONCLUSION: We have successfully demonstrated modulation in the levels of inflammatory cytokines, cyclooxygenase enzymes and immunoglobulins by our in-house laboratory preparations of Perna canaliculus, whereby suggesting an immunomodulatory role of Perna canaliculus in regulating inflammation

Lyprinol (stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand green-lipped mussel): a potential preventative treatment modality for inflammatory bowel disease

The original publication can be found at www.springerlink.comLyprinol (Pharmalink International), the stabilised lipid extract of the New Zealand green-lipped mussel, is currently used to relieve symptoms of arthritis. We investigated the effect of pretreatment with Lyprinol (LYP) on experimentally induced inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in mice. Methods. Male C57BL/6 mice (aged 6 weeks) were gavaged daily for 13 days with (150μl) olive oil (OO; n = 7), fish oil (FO; n = 8), or LYP (n = 8). Mice consumed 2% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) for 6 days, starting on day 7. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily. Colonic damage was determined by histopathology. Colonic inflammation was quantified by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Results. LYP treatment significantly (P = 0.05) reduced body weight loss, DAI scores, crypt area losses, and cecum and colon weights, compared with FO treatment. MPO activity was not significantly affected by any treatment. Conclusions. These findings provide preliminary evidence that Lyprinol may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of IBD. The benefit, however, is unlikely to be due to the omega-3 fatty acid content. Doseresponse evaluation of Lyprinol in experimental IBD is warranted.Danik Tenikoff, Karen J. Murphy, Maria Le, Peter R. Howe and Gordon S. Howart

Lyprinol(TM): a potential preventive treatment for experimental inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

Incorporating the 7th International Symposium of Clinical Nutrition [and the] 4th International Conference of the Asia Pacific Clinical Nutrition SocietyBackground- Fish oil and the stabilised lipid extract of New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel (Lyprinol trade mark; LYP) are considered beneficial in treating arthritis and other inflammatory conditions. Unlike fish oil, it is uncertain whether any benefit seen with LYP is due to its omega-3 fatty acid content. We compared the effect of LYP and fish oil pre-treatments on experimental induction of IBD in mice. Methods- Male C57BL/6 mice aged 6 weeks were gavaged daily for 13 days with 150microl of olive oil (OO, n=7), LYP (5mg in OO; n=8) or fish oil (FO, 55mg EPA/DHA; n=8). Mice consumed 2% dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) for 6 days from day 7 to induce colitis. Body weight and disease activity index (DAI) scores were recorded daily; colonic inflammation was assessed by myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity and histopathologic damage to the ileum and colon. Results- FO treatment had no significant benefit compared with OO. By day 12 of the trial, OO treated mice had gained 15+/-2% body weight, FO treated mice had gained 6+/-5% and LYP treated mice had gained 21+/-3%: LYP treated mice had a lower DAI score (0 vs. 1 for OO, 4 for FO). Compared with FO, LYP treated mice had smaller crypt area losses (distal colon), lower caecum and colon weights and a trend for lower overall colitis severity in the distal colon. MPO activity was not significantly affected by either LYP or FO vs. OO (see table). Conclusions- These findings indicate that LYP may be potentially useful in ameliorating symptoms of IBD. The lack of effect of FO indicates that the benefit of LYP is attributable to components of the stabilised lipid extract other than its omega 3 content. A dose-response evaluation of LYP in experimental IBD is warranted

Lyprinol reduces inflammation and improves lung function in a mouse model of allergic airways disease

Background: Asthma is an inflammatory airway disease that is characterized by an influx of eosinophils to the lungs, mucus hypersecretion and T helper type 2 cytokine production. Recent dietary changes, including a decreased ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) intake, may have contributed to increased asthma rates and dietary supplementation with marine oil could have clinical benefits. Objective: To assess the effects of dietary supplementation with ω-3 PUFAs on allergic inflammation and lung function using a mouse model of ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic airway disease (AAD). Methods: BALB/c mice received a daily supplement of either fish oil (rich in ω-3 PUFA) or lyprinol (a complex mixture of various marine lipids plus vitamin E and olive oil) before and during AAD. The effects of supplementation on AAD were assessed. Results: Lyprinol but not fish oil treatment reduced eosinophil influx into the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, the lung tissue surrounding the airways and the blood, decreased mucus hypersecretion in the lung and reduced airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). The effects of lyprinol were not associated with changes in serum IgG1 or IgG2a, or the release of IL-4, IL-5, IL-13 and IFN-γ. Conclusions: Lyprinol suppresses the development of allergic inflammation and AHR in AAD. The therapeutic potential of dietary supplementation with lyprinol for asthma warrants further investigation

Furan fatty acid as an anti-inflammatory component from the green-lipped mussel Perna canaliculus

A lipid extract of Perna canaliculus (New Zealand green-lipped mussel) has reportedly displayed anti-inflammatory effects in animal models and in human controlled studies. However, the anti-inflammatory lipid components have not been investigated in detail due to the instability of the lipid extract, which has made the identification of the distinct active components a formidable task. Considering the instability of the active component, we carefully fractionated a lipid extract of Perna canaliculus (Lyprinol) and detected furan fatty acids (F-acids). These naturally but rarely detected fatty acids show potent radical-scavenging ability and are essential constituents of plants and algae. Based on these data, it has been proposed that F-acids could be potential antioxidants, which may contribute to the protective properties of fish and fish oil diets against chronic inflammatory diseases. However, to date, in vivo data to support the hypothesis have not been obtained, presumably due to the limited availability of F-acids. To confirm the in vivo anti-inflammatory effect of F-acids in comparison with that of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), we developed a semisynthetic preparation and examined its anti-inflammatory activity in a rat model of adjuvant-induced arthritis. Indeed, the F-acid ethyl ester exhibited more potent anti-inflammatory activity than that of the EPA ethyl ester. We report on the in vivo activity of F-acids, confirming that the lipid extract of the green-lipped mussel includes an unstable fatty acid that is more effective than EPA