title: Calcium fructoborate--potential anti-inflammatory agent.
abstract: Calcium fructoborate is a boron-based nutritional supplement. Its chemical structure is similar to one of the natural forms of boron such as bis-manitol, bis-sorbitol, bis-fructose, and bis-sucrose borate complexes found in edible plants. In vitro studies revealed that calcium fructoborate is a superoxide ion scavenger and anti-inflammatory agent. It may influence macrophage production of inflammatory mediators, can be beneficial for the suppression of cytokine production, and inhibits progression of endotoxin-associated diseases, as well as the boric acid and other boron sources. The mechanisms by which calcium fructoborate exerts its beneficial anti-inflammatory effects are not entirely clear, but some of its molecular biological in vitro activities are understood: inhibition of the superoxide within the cell; inhibition of the interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, and nitric oxide release in the culture media; and increase of the tumor necrosis factor-α production. Also, calcium fructoborate has no effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced cyclooxygenase-2 protein express. The studies on animals and humans with a dose range of 1-7 mg calcium fructoborate (0.025-0.175 mg elemental boron)/kg body weight/day exhibited a good anti-inflammatory activity, and it also seemed to have negligible adverse effect on humans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Craiova, A.I. Cuza Str., Nr. 13, Craiova, Romania. romulus_ion@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Romulus Ion
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Scorei
authors.forename: Petre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rotaru
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001881:Borates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005632:Fructose / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D001881:Borates; C507177:calcium fructoborate; D005632:Fructose