Ability of various adsorbents to bind endotoxins in vitro and to prevent orally induced endotoxemia in mice.

The efficacy of various adsorbents for endotoxin was tested in vitro and in vivo using a murine experimental model of gut-derived endotoxemia. A quantitative limulus amebocyte lysate microtiter test and the limulus amebocyte lysate tube test were used to determine intestinal and circulating levels of endotoxin. Kaopectate, kaolin/pectin mixture, kaolin, pectin, bentonite, charcoal particles, and lactulose were tested for their ability to bind endotoxins both in vitro and in vivo. The most effective material in the prevention of endotoxemia provided to be bentonite followed by Kaopectate and charcoal particles. Kaolin least effectively bound endotoxin at similar concentrations, while lactulose and pectin had minimal effects. Good correlation was shown between the ability of these drugs to bind endotoxin in vitro as compared with in vivo action.