THE EFFECT OF REBAMIPIDE ON GASTRIC XANTHINE-OXIDASE ACTIVITY AND TYPE CONVERSION IN ETHANOL-TREATED RATS

Rebamipide, a novel antipeptic ulcer drug, obenzoylamino)-3-[2(1H)-qui nolinone-4-yl]propionic acid, was studied for its inhibitory effect on gastric xanthine oxidase activity and type conversion of the enzyme t hat has a profound role in free radical generation. Intraperitoneal ad ministration of rebamipide at 60 mg/kg body weight reduced gastric muc osal hemorrhagic lesions and lipid peroxidation, which was proportiona l to the inhibitory effect of rebamipide on alcohol-induced xanthine o xidase-type conversion and enzyme activity. It was also observed that the activity of xanthine oxidase was significantly inhibited by admini stration of rebamipide at 60 mg/kg body weight, leading to a significa nt reduction of lipid peroxide content in alcohol-treated rats. The re sults suggest that alcohol-induced gastric mucosal lesions might be, i n part, due to the increased activity of xanthine oxidase and type con version rate of the enzyme and the protective effect of rebamipide on gastric mucosal lesions would result from its ability to protect again st oxidative stress on gastric mucosal lesions of alcohol-treated rats .