PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF CILAZAPRIL AGAINST FREE-RADICAL INJURY IN MYOCARDIAL ISCHEMIA-REPERFUSION

Cilazapril is a prodrug which is rapidly hydrolysed to the pharmacolog ically active cilazaprilat following absorption to the bloodstream. In clinical pharmacological studies, administration of cilazapril result ed in potent, reversible, selective and competitive angiotensin conver ting enzyme inhibition. In this study, we have examined the protective effect of cilazapril on a myocardial ischaemia-reperfusion model by u sing different parameters of lipid peroxidation and protein oxidation. We have observed increased levels of diene conjugates, carbonyls and malondialdehyde as well as protein carbonyls after ischaemia-reperfusi on, whereas protein sulphydryl groups were decreased. Our results clea rly demonstrate that cilazapril, a non-sulphydryl, long-acting angiote nsin converting enzyme inhibitor, has free-radical-scavenging potentia l in a model comparable to the clinical situation observed in humans.