PROTECTION OF ZINC ACEXAMATE ON GASTRIC-LESIONS INDUCED BY NONSTEROIDAL ANTIINFLAMMATORY DRUGS

The ability of different non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (diclof enac, indomethacin, ketoprofen, naproxen and piroxicam) to inhibit gas tric prostaglandin E2 production in the rat was compared with their da maging potential on gastric mucosa. The influence of treatment with zi nc acexamate (ZAC) on these two parameters was also determined. ZAC tr eatment significantly decreased the degree of gastric damage elicited by all the antiinflammatories tested. The experimental data confirm th e complexity of the gastrolesive effect exerted by anti-inflammatory d rugs and that only part of such effect would be related with their inh ibition of prostaglandin synthesis. These results indicate that the ga stroprotection of ZAC does not exclusively depend on the effect on the synthesis of prostaglandins by the gastric mucosa, yet it can additio nally be exerted through alternative mechanisms.