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Background Lipoic acid (LA) was shown to possess anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we present evidence supporting the hypothesis that the anti-inflammatory properties of LA are associated with the formation of hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S). Methods The study was conducted on male albino Swiss mice. The animals were treated with carrageenan by subcutaneous ( sc ) injection into the right hind paw to induce acute inflammation. Animals were treated intraperitoneally ( ip ) with LA (30, 50 and 100 mg/kg) or indomethacin (20 mg/kg) 30 min before carrageenan administration. The control group was given ip the vehicle (1% Tween 80) 30 min before carrageenan administration. Additional experiment involved ip combined treatment of mice with glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) or glibenclamide (10 mg/kg) and LA(100 mg/kg) 30 min before carrageenan administration. LA, indomethacin and glibenclamide were suspended in 1% Tween 80. At 1, 2 and 3 h after treatment with carrageenan the degree of the paw edema was evaluated by the measurement of the paw volume using aqueous plethysmometer. Results Injection of carrageenan into the mouse hind paw increased paw volume. The increase in paw edema was completely suppressed by pretreatment with LA. The reduction of paw edema by LAwas abolished by pretreatment with the K ATP channel antagonist, glibenclamide. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate for the first time in vivo that the anti-inflammatory activity of LA might be connected with the formation of H 2 S.

Background Nanoparticles (a part of matter which size is less than 100 nm) have numerous potential applications in biomedicine, due to their unique surface, electronic and optical properties. The goal of the present study was to examine the distribution of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in mice after single intravenous administration. Methods Spherical GNPs were synthesized by chemical reduction of tetrachloroauric acid with ascorbic acid as a reductant. GNPs were stabilized using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA, m.w. = 67000Da) a substance approved for use in the pharmaceutical industry. The size of colloidal gold particles (diameter equals 25 ± 8 nm) was determined using HR SEM and DLS techniques; ς potential of GNPs was determined using Malvern Zetasizer Nano ZS and it equals –5.2 ± 5.4 mV. An aqueous dispersion of GNPs was administered to mice in a dose of about 10 cm 3 /kg and 24 h later the amount of gold in different organs was determined using the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP MS). Initial concentration of GNPs equals 29.55 mg/l. Results GNPs after single intravenous administration preferentially accumulated in the liver (12.7 % of the applied dose), while the other organs accumulated around 0.1 % or less. Conclusion Colloidal GNPs of the used size (about 25 ± 8 nm) provide new potential route for direct delivery system to the liver, which may be important e.g., in liver cancer diagnosis.