Erdosteine

Erdosteine is a mucolytic. Erdosteine is a thiol derivative developed for the treatment of chronic obstructive bronchitis, including acute infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Erdosteine contains 2 blocked sulfhydryl groups which are released following first-pass metabolism. The 3 active metabolites exhibit mucolytic and free radical scavenging activity. Erdosteine modulates mucus production and viscosity and increases mucociliary transport, thereby improving expectoration. It also exhibits inhibitory activity against the effects of free radicals produced by cigarette smoke. Clinical studies in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease have demonstrated the efficacy and tolerability of erdosteine. Erdosteine 300mg twice daily reduced cough (both frequency and severity) and sputum viscosity more quickly and more effectively than placebo and reduced the adhesivity of sputum more effectively than ambroxol 30mg twice daily. Co-administration of erdosteine and amoxicillin in patients with acute infective exacerbation of chronic bronchitis resulted in higher concentrations of the antibiotic in the sputum, leading to earlier and more pronounced amelioration of clinical symptoms compared with placebo. Erdosteine is associated with a low incidence of adverse events, most of which are gastrointestinal and generally mild. (In Vitro):Erdosteine is an oral mucolytic agent used as an expectorant in various chronic respiratory diseases. Erdosteine exerts anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting NF-κB activation in LPS-stimulated mouse macrophages. However, Erdosteine does not inhibit LPS induced phosphorylation of the Akt and MAPK pathways. To evaluate the toxic effects of Erdosteine on macrophages, cell viability is analyzed. Treatment with 1, 10, or 100 μg/mL Erdosteine does not produce detectable cytotoxicity. Treatment with LPS (1 μg/mL) induced IκBα degradation in RAW 264.7 cells, and maximal degradation is observed after 10 min. RAW 264.7 cells are pretreated with the indicated concentrations of Erdosteine for 6 h and then stimulated with LPS (1 μg/mL) for 10 min. Pretreatment with Erdosteine does not have any effect on the baseline amount of IκBα. Treatment with DMSO alone at a volume equal to that used for Erdosteine delivery does not have any effect on the baseline amount of IκBα. The amount of IκBα is decreased by treatment with LPS for 10 min, and pretreatment with Erdosteine at the indicated concentration and time effectively inhibits IκBα degradation.\n(In Vivo):Twenty-six male mice are divided into four groups as follows: group 1, control; group 2, Erdosteine-treated; group 3, Methotrexate (MTX)-treated; and group 4, Methotrexate+Erdosteine treated. On the first day of experiment, a single dose of Methotrexate is intraperitoneally administered to groups 3 and 4, although a daily single dose of Erdosteine is orally administered to group 2 and 4 for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, the testes of the animals are removed and weighed. The levels of total antioxidant capacity and total oxidative stress, and myeloperoxidase activity in the Methotrexate group are higher than the control group (p<0.05). Lipid peroxidation levels are not changed in Methotrexate group compared with control group. In conclusion, Erdosteine can effectively protect the testes in Methotrexate-induced toxicity. Erdosteine administration with Methotrexate improves testicular injures, as indicated by appearance of spermatogenesis in seminiferous tubules.