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International Journal of Molecular Veterinary Research
2013, Vol.3, No.6, 23
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24
and hormones. It can greatly enhance their penetrance
and efficacy in plants and trees and enhance plant
growth by 15% to 20% (Garren, 1967; Kiehl, 1967;
Leake, 1967; Leonard, 1967; Scuchetti, 1967; Smale
et al., 1975).
Scientists working with DMSO soon reported other
unusual properties such as its ability to penetrate skin
to produce offensive garlic or oyster halitosis.
This smell is due to its metabolite, dimethyl sulfide
(Distefano and Klahn, 1965; Brown, 1982).
Robert Herschler and Stanley Jacob were the strong
proponents of the early study of DMSO as a
therapeutic agent (Leake, 1967; Bartfeld and
Goldstein, 1975; Leake, 1975; Douglass and Walker,
1983). DMSO was found to be superior to glycerol for
cryopreservation of bovine spermatozoa (Lovelock
and Bishop, 1959). It is also used as cryoprotectant
added to cell media in order to prevent the cells from
dying as they are being frozen (Pegs, 2007). The first
report of DMSO as a pharmacologic agent was
published in 1964. Investigational new drug (IND)
status was then granted by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) (Harter, 1983).
In November 1965, the FDA terminated clinical
studies on DMSO because Rubin demonstrated that
DMSO induced lenticular changes in some laboratory
animals (Rubin and Barnett, 1967). In 1966, the FDA
relaxed the policy to permit clinical evaluation in the
treatment of serious conditions such as scleroderma,
persistent herpes zoster and severe rheumatoid
arthritis, for which no satisfactory therapy was
available (Harter, 1983). In 1968, the policy was
further relaxed to permit topical application for less
than 14 days (Kligman, 1965). In 1970, the FDA
approved DMSO for veterinary use in musculoskeletal
injuries in horses. In 1972, approval was extended for
use in dogs. In 1978, the FDA authorized the use of
50% DMSO (RIMSO-50
®
) for the treatment of interstitial
cystitis in humans (Leake, 1967; and Harter, 1983).
3 Physiological and Pharmacological Properties
3.1 Absorption or penetration of DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide readily penetrates the skin within
5 minutes after cutaneous application. Radiolabeled
DMSO can be detected in the blood and characteristic
garlic halitosis is evident due to reduction of its
metabolite called dimethyl sulfide within 20 minutes.
It can be found in all the organs of the body and
within one hour, radiolabeled DMSO is detected in
bones and teeth (Kolb et al., 1967). The penetrating
ability of DMSO is believed to be due to its exchange
and interchange for water in biological membranes
(Szmant, 1967; Weissman et al., 1967; David, 1972;
Kharasch and Thygarajan, 1983).
3.2 DMSO as a Carrier Agent
Dimethyl sulfoxide facilitates penetration of many
other substances across the membranes. Cutaneous
penetration of various steroids (Dkan and Gunberg,
1967; Maibach and Feldman, 1967; Wood and Wood,
1975), insulin, heparin, sulfadiazine (Potts et al., 1967)
and phenylbutazone (Jimenez and Wilkens, 1982) is
enhanced by DMSO. Anaesthetic, cardioactive,
anticholinesterase and other not-innocuous therapeutic
agents may have enhanced penetration or modified
activity in the presence of DMSO (Distefano and
Klahn, 1965; Banthorpe and Lamont, 1967; Braude
and Monroe, 1967; Smith et al., 1967; Steinberg, 1967;
Rubin, 1975; Yellowless et al., 1980). In clinical
situations, it is used as a vehicle and or potentiator of
antibacterial agents (Potts et al., 1967; Feldmen et al.,
1975; Miranda-Tirado, 1975; Van Risjwick, 1981),
antiprotozoal and antifungal agents (Post and
Saunders, 1979), antiviral agents (Sehtman, 1975;
Zuniga et al., 1975; Spruance et al., 1983) and
chemotherapeutic agents (Garrido and Lagos, 1975;
Setala, 1983; Warren et al., 1983).
3.3 Radioscavenging Property of DMSO
Dimethyl sulfoxide traps free radical hydroxide and its
reduction metabolite dimethyl sulfide (DMS) traps the
free radical oxygen (Misch and Misch; 1975; Repine
et al., 1979; Hill et al., 1983; Rosenblum, 1983). Their
free radical scavenging capabilities are believed to be
responsible for some of the antiinflammatory,
cryoprotective, radioprotective and antiischemic
properties when used
in vivo
, topically or parenterally
(Brayton, 1986).
3.4 Enzyme inhibition action of Dmso
Dimethyl sulfoxide inhibits acetylcholinesterase and