Ina Guțu

Introduction

Insects, throughout evolution, have developed a huge arsenal of active compounds, which they use to defend themselves against enemies and diseases, at the same time in recent years insects have shown great interest as a source of food rich in biologically active substances. Research in recent decades has shown that insects produce a variety of proteins and peptides with antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antitumor, hepatoprotective, antithrombotic, antihypertensive and detoxifying activity during or after contact with the microbial agent or unfavourable factor.

Materials and methods

The anti-inflammatory effect of imuheptin and imupurin was investigated in a rat model of subacute inflammation induced by subcutaneous implantation of felt discs. The intensity of the exudative and proliferative phase of inflammation, cytokine profile (TNFalpha, IL-6, IL-10), ceruloplasmin and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione reductase, glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase) in the serum of rats were evaluated.

Results

Imuheptin and imupurin reduced the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and increased that of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10), as well as ceruloplasmin, glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase in subacute inflammation. Additionally, imupurin significantly increased the level of catalase and imuheptin that of glutathione-S-transferase.

Conclusions

Imuheptin and imupurin determined a moderate effect of inhibiting the exudative and proliferative processes, compared to the reference preparation - dexamethasone, but with a favourable effect on the cytokine profile, decreasing the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IL-6) and increasing the level the anti-inflammatory one (IL-10), as well as the modulation of antioxidant enzyme activity.