Colonization by diatoms and antirheumatic activity of thermal mud.

Authors: Tolomio C (1) , Ceschi-Berrini C (1) , Moschin E (1) , Galzigna L (2)
Affiliations:
(1) Department of Biology, University of Padova (2) Institute of Laboratory Medicine, University of Padova
Source: Cell Biochem Funct. 1999 Mar;17(1):29-33.
DOI: 10.1002/(SICI)1099-0844(199903)17:1<29::AID-CBF808>3.0.CO;2-4 Publication date: 1999 Mar E-Publication date: Feb. 22, 1999 Availability: abstract Copyright: © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Language: English Countries: Not specified Location: Not specified Correspondence address: Galzigna L :
Department of Biochemistry, University of Padova, viale G. Colombo 3, 35121 Padova, Italy.
Email : gal@civ.bio.unipd.it

Keywords

Article abstract

We have identified diatoms among other thermophilic microorganisms as the main agents for the colonization of thermal mud resulting in a 'maturation' which renders the mud suitable to be used for mud-pack treatment of osteoarthrosis patients. The main effects of the diatom growth are the progressive enrichment of mud extracts in chlorophyll a parallel to the building up of a sulfoglycolipid endowed with an anti-inflammatory action. The sulfoglycolipid was also produced by diatoms isolated from the mud and cultivated in vitro.

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