Background art: In inflammatory conditions, albumin half-life time was reduced and its daily synthesis increased (). Capillary permeability isalso increased (2).

The later event might promote plasma proteins extravasation with important metabolic consequences, among which is activation of nicotinamide deamidase by albumin The anti-inflammatory action of cortisone, a corticosteroid, might be well related to the effects of cortisone on albumin metabolism as it increased albumin turnover, stimulated albumin synthesis and caused a shift of extravascular exchangeable albumin into the plasma (5). Cortisone suppressed mucopolysacharide formation (6), probably via increasing intravascular albumin availability, thus probably diminishing albumin extravasation via decreased capillary permeability to plasma proteins (7). This might explain, at least in part, the non-specific mode by which hyperphysiological doses of hydrocortisone markedly lowered the activity of hepatic nicotinamide deamidase (8). However, in nephrosis, glucocorticoids increased plasma albumin and induced diuresis (9). Likewise, it is thought that cholic acid by influencing albumin metabolism, probably by reducing its catabolic rate might increase its half-life time thus decreasing mucopolysacharide formation and thereby exhibiting its theraputic activities. However, it appears that many adverse-effects concomitant with corticosteroids administration might be diminished by replacement with cholic acid.

The idea behind the invention is the hypothesis (7) that serum albumin metabolism might be the mechanism, probably via folate-B, 2 cycle, of physiological fine-tunning when our genetic constitution interacts with the environment. However, when serum albumin metabolism, for numerous reasons, is altered; the mechanism of physiological fine-tunning is lost, to different extents, and a state of pathophysiology comes into action.

Disclosure of the invention: Pure cholic acid (NZP, Newzealand) was suspended in vaseline base, The product was topically applied to eleven volunteers with painful swellen joints of different aetiological origins i. e traumatic and connective tissue disease. The product was also applied to nine volunteers with different clinical grades of haemorrhoids. The twenty patients, as well as the clinical examination, showed progressive improvement within three days of treatment.

Scattered observations on this group of patients and others suggest that the product might possess a diuretic, hypotensive, sedative, wound- healing, immunosuppressive, and oestrogen-like activities. Work on therapeutic potentials of the product is in progress. The product might be manufactured in the form of cream, ointment, oral and non-oral preparations.

References: 1-Surovikina, M. S. (1959). Trudy stalinabadsk med. Inst. , 37: 65-9.

2-Guytbn, A. C. (1986). Textbook of medical physiology. W. B. Saunders, Company, Philadelphia.

3-Petrack, B.; Greengard, P.; Cratson, A.; and Sheppy, F. (1965).

Nicotinamide deamidase from mammalian liver. J. Biol. Chem. 244, 1389.

4-Sandor, G; and Kawerau, E. (1966). Serum proteins in health and disease.

Chapman and Hall LTD, London.

5-Rothchild, M. A.; and Waldmann, T. (1970). Plasma protein metabolism, regulation of synthesis, distribution, and degradation. Academic Press, New York.

6-Bartley, W.; Birt, L. M.; and Banks, P. (1974). The Biochemistry of the tissues. John Wiley and Sons, London.

7-Osman, E. A. M. (2002). Albumin metabolism, the holy life fire.

Unpublished hypothesis.

8-Dietrich, L. S.; Yero, I. L.; and Martinez, L. (1965). Life Sci. , 4 (19): 1849-<BR> 52., 9-Luetscher, J. A.; Quentin, B. D.; and Johnson, B. B. (1951).

A comparison of the effects of ACTH and Cortisone in Nephrosis.

J. Clin. Invest. , 30,658.