Palmitoylethanolamide - a natural body fat as antiinflammatory agent !

About Palmitoylethanolamide : Palmitoylethanolamide, is an endogenous fatty acid amide which has been demonstrated to bind to peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR-α) , GPR55 and GPR119. PEA has been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive properties. PEA is metabolized by fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) and N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase (NAAA), the latter of which has more specificity towards PEA over other fatty acid amides.

For decades, it has been known that palmitoylethanolamide (PEA), is a potent anti-inflammatory substance that reduces both allergic symptoms and occurrences of rheumatic fever, but researchers understood little about how PEA works. But now Daniele Piomelli, the Louise Turner Arnold (Chair in Neurosciences at UCI), and colleagues found that levels of PEA are tightly regulated by immune system cells. In turn, PEA helps control the activity of these cells, which are called into action to fight infection, disease and injury in the body. In addition, they found that PEA - also present in foods like eggs and peanuts , is deactivated by a protein called N-acylethanolamine-hydrolyzing acid amidase, which is an enzyme that breaks down molecules controlling cell inflammation.

When given to rodents, the compound increased the levels of PEA in their immune cells and reduced the amount of inflammation elicited by an inflammatory substance. Furthermore, when administered to the spinal cords of mice after spinal cord injury, the compound decreased inflammation associated with the trauma and improved the recovery of motor function.

As most of the antiinflammatory drugs available these days have side effects, this drug may be a boon to the sufferers....

Ref : http://today.uci.edu/news/nr_PEA_091116.php

Colcrys approved by FDA for prevention of gout flares...

Colchicine is a toxic natural product and secondary metabolite, originally extracted from plants of the genus  Colchicum (Autumn crocus, Colchicum autumnale, also known as "Meadow saffron"). It was used originally to treat rheumatic complaints, especially gout.

Recently (July 30, 2009 ), US FDA has approved Colcrys(TM) (colchicine, USP) for the prophylaxis (prevention) of gout flares. Colcrys was first approved by the FDA on for the treatment of acute gout flares when taken at the first sign of a flare. Colcrys is also indicated for the treatment of Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) in adults and children 4 years of age or older. Colcrys is available via prescription at pharmacies nationwide.

As per the claim by the company (URL Pharma, Inc.) , two randomized clinical trials assessed the efficacy of colchicine 0.6 mg twice a day for the prophylaxis of gout flares in patients initiating treatment with uric-acid lowering therapy. In both trials, treatment with colchicine decreased the frequency of gout flares. Colchicine has been shown to be well-tolerated when paired with uric acid-lowering agents such as allopurinol. The dosing of Colcrys for gout flare prophylaxis is one tablet (0.6 mg) once or twice a day. The maximum daily dose for prophylaxis is two tablets (1.2 mg).

Uric acid-lowering agents are highly effective and well-established in chronic gout management, but the initiation of this therapy may sometimes trigger a gout flare, where as Colchicine has been proven to be effective in preventing flares when given in conjunction with uric acid-lowering therapy, except for the mild diarrhea. Hope patients suffering from gout will breathe a sigh of relief..

Ref : http://www.drugs.com/colcrys.html