P38 INHIBITORS

The invention relates to novel p38 MAPK inhibitor which involves Mycobacterium w and/or its constituents in pharmaceutically acceptable carriers and their uses. Mycobacterium w and/or its constituents when administered to mammal results in p38 inhibition The inhibition is found to last more than 28 days. It is also found to induce inhibition of TNF-alfa. it suppresses cytokines in a pattern identical to Glucocorticoids. In transforms cells it also induces apoptosis. P38 mediated conditions include inflammation, cell differentiation, cell proliferation, cell inhibition, cell cycle regulation, anti-inflammatory reactions, immune modulation, vascularization, response to external stimuli and angiogenesis. The use of Mycobacterium w (Mw) and/or constituents of Mycobacterium w for inhibition of p38 protein kinase i.e. (i) to induce apoptosis in transformed cells (ii) for inhibition of TNF-alfa (iii) for inhibition of cytokines.