Prophylactic effect of egualen sodium, a stable azulene derivative, on gastrointestinal damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion, double antiplatelet therapy and loxoprofen in rats.

We examined the effect of egualen, a stable azulene derivative, against gastric damage induced by ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), gastric bleeding induced by double antiplatelet therapy with aspirin (ASA) plus clopidogrel, and small intestinal damage generated by loxoprofen, and investigated the possible mechanisms involved in its protective action. Male C57BL/6 mice or SD rats were used under urethane anesthesia (gastric lesions) or in a conscious (intestinal lesions) state. I/R-induced gastric injury was produced in mice by clamping the celiac artery for 30 min, followed by reperfusion for 60 min. Gastric bleeding was induced in rats by luminal perfusion with 25 mM ASA+50 mM HCl for 2 hours in the presence of clopidogrel (30 mg/kg). To produce small intestinal lesions the rats were given loxoprofen (60 mg/kg) p.o. and killed 24 hours later. Egualen was given i.d. 60 min before I/R or ASA perfusion, while given p.o. twice 30 min before and 6 hours after loxoprofen. Egualen significantly prevented the I/R-induced gastric damage, and the effect was equivalent to that of seratrodast (TXA2 antagonist). This agent also significantly suppressed gastric bleeding induced by ASA plus clopidogrel, similar to PGE2. Likewise, egualen significantly prevented loxoprofen-induced damage in the small intestine, accompanied by an increase in the secretion of mucus and suppression of bacterial invasion as well as iNOS expression. These results suggest that egualen has a prophylactic effect against various lesions in the gastrointestinal mucosa, probably through its characteristic pharmacological properties, such as TXA2 antagonistic action, local mucosal protection, and stimulation of mucus secretion.