HELSINT   S.A.L.  is regularly providing a purified and standardized extract of Polypodium leucotomos cultivated in the facility of the Yojoa Lake. This extract is the component assets for the formulation of a pharmaceutical speciality DIFUR, widely used in affections such as Psoriasis, Dermatitis and Vitiligo.

        A scientific research under the responsability of Industrial Farmaceutica Cantabria is being developed in order to extend the use of DIFUR in other indications, mainly in the inmuno-protector function of the Polypodium leucotomos extract, in different Universities, like Upssala (Sweden) and Granada (Spain).

The extract of Polypodium leucotomos (DIFUR®), like adjuvant to Puvaterapia in the processing of the vulgar Psoriasis.
M.E. de las Heras, E. Ledo, S. González, A. Rocamora, E. Ledo (Departamento de Dermatología, Hospital Ramón y Cajal). 
Medicina Cutánea Iberolatinoamericana, Volumen XXV - N2 1997. 

        Summary: The PUVAterapia constitutes an effective therapeutic weapon in the processing of the psoriasis; nevertheless, it is not free of side effets. Recently inmunomodulators and antirust properties of the Polypodium leucotomos extract have been demonsatrated. In this study the therapeutic effectiveness of this agent like adjuvant is evaluated to the photoquimiotherapy with psoralenos in the processing of the vulgar psoriasis.

         In other hand the extract of Polypodium leucotomos has been in the processing of certain cutaneous processes, such as psoriasis or atopia and combined to PUVA in patients of vitiligo. Recently, a photoprotector activity has been demonstrated forehead to the solar burn and phototoxic reaction induced by PUVA. In this respect, an antirust and inhibiting capacity of the peroxidation has been observed.

Effect of Polypodium leucotomos on acute, chronic and reactivated trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid colitis in rats. 
J. Gálvez, F. Sánchez de Medina, J.A. Romero and A. Zarzuelo. (Departement of  Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, University of Granada, Campus de Cartuja s/n. 18071 Granada, Spain.)
Inflammopharmacology, Vol. 8, N 1, pp. 89-105 (2000) 

        Abstract: The effects were axaminated of a Polypodium leucotomos extract on trinitrobenzene sulphonic acid (TNBS) induced rat colitis. Pretreatment with the extract had a dose-dependent acute anti-inflamatory effect which was maximal at 100 mg/kg/day. This was characterized by preservation of glutathione levels at low doses (25-50 mg/kg) and inhibition of leukotriene B4 synthesis at high doses (50-100 mg/kg). Treatment was also active in chronic colitis, induced by TNBS, as was evident by enhanced colonic fluid absorption and reducing myeloperoxidase levels, while glutatione levels and leukotriene B4 synthesis were unaffected by treatment. Finally, treated animals were partially protected against colitis reactivation, showing lower myeloperoxidase  and leukotriene B4 synthesis than controls and normal fluid absorption, but no change in glutathione. In conclusion, Polypodium leucotomos is useful to control experimental colitis (acute, chronic and reactivated) but no common mechanism of action could be delineated, since  neither an antioxidative mechanism nor inhibition of leukotriene B4 synthesis can account for the overall effect.