Activated charcoal in the treatment of hypercholesterolaemia: dose-response relationships and comparison with cholestyramine

Recent developments in the use of activated charcoal in medicine

One of the raw forms of graphite is activated charcoal which has an extensive surface area allowing for the adsorption of a wide range of chemicals. It possesses the strongest physical adsorption forces of the available materials, as well as the largest volume of adsorbing porosity. Activated charcoal acts as an adsorbent, collecting and storing substances in the gastrointestinal tract, reducing or blocking absorption in the bloodstream. The ingested toxins interact with charcoal by recycling toxins in the intestinal cavity. In cases where the drug has not been absorbed from the abdominal system, it is recirculated through the liver and intestines or by means of passive diffusion or active secretion. The article aims to review the most recent advances in the use of the activated charcoal, including the dose, how charcoal acts in the body, the mechanism of action, administration, contraindications, as well as the impact of various factors on the adsorption process. In addition, we also discussed numerous medical applications of activated charcoal.

Le Carbone prevents liver damage in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-hepatocellular carcinoma mouse model via AMPKα-SIRT1 signaling pathway activation

Le Carbone (LC), a fiber-enriched activated charcoal dietary supplement, claimed to be effective against inflammation associated with colitis, trimethylaminuria, and sclerosis. The study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of LC to protect liver damage and its progression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis-hepatocellular carcinoma (NASH-HCC) mice. To induce this model, C57BL/6J male baby mice were injected with a low-dose of streptozotocin and fed with a high-fat diet (HFD) 32 during 4 weeks–16 weeks of age. The LC suspension was administered orally at a dose of 5 mg/mouse/day started at the age of 6 weeks and continued until 16 weeks of age along with HFD32 feeding. At the end of the experiment, serum and liver tissues were collected for the biochemical, histological, and molecular analysis. We found that LC suspension improved the histopathological changes, serum aminotransferases in NASH mice. The hepatic expression of metabolic proteins, p-AMPKα and sirtuin 1, and proteins responsible for β-oxidation of fatty acids, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) γ coactivator-α, PPARα were significantly repressed in NASH mice. LC treatment markedly restored these expressions. LC treatment significantly reduced the hepatic proteins expressions of PPARγ, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 4, p47phox, p-JNK, p-ERK1/2, glypican-3, and prothrombin in NASH mice. Our findings demonstrate that LC prevents the liver damage and progression of NASH, possibly by enhancing the AMPK-SIRT1 signaling pathway.

PEGylated carbon nanoparticles for efficient in vitro photothermal cancer therapy

PEGylated carbon nanoparticles possess strong heat-producing ability and exhibit great potential in photothermal cancer therapy.

The effect of cholestyramine and activated charcoal on glipizide absorption

1. The interference of cholestyramine and activated charcoal with the absorption of glipizide was studied. 2. In a cross-over study comprising three phases, single doses of cholestyramine (8 g), activated charcoal (8 g) or water only were given to six healthy volunteers together with a single dose of glipizide. 3. The absorption of glipizide was moderately (29%, P less than 0.01) reduced by cholestyramine and greatly reduced (81%, P less than 0.01) by activated charcoal. 4. If cholestyramine and glipizide are used concomitantly, glipizide should be taken 1-2 h beforehand. In acute glipizide overdosage, activated charcoal can be used to reduce absorption.