Anti-inflammatory activity of S-adenosyl-L-methionine in animal models: possible interference with the eicosanoid system.

In rats, the anti-inflammatory activity of parenteral S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe) in carrageenin- and nystatin-induced oedemas and in carrageenin-induced pleurisy was tested. The capability of the drug to inhibit the production of PG-like material in sponge exudates and by peritoneal leukocytes during bacterial phagocytosis was also evaluated. Two of these experimental models were used to administer the compound by the oral route in order to see whether oral and injected SAMe had similar effects. The results obtained show that SAMe can exert anti-inflammatory activity by inhibiting the oedema and pleurisy in rats and PG-like material production in inflammatory exudates and in the phagocytosis process by leukocytes. The mechanism of action of SAMe is discussed.