Studies on the gastroprotective and ulcer-healing effects of colloidal bismuth subcitrate.

We investigated the gastroprotective effects of colloidal bismuth subcitrate (CBS, De-Nol) in comparison with agents such as sucralfate and methylated PGE2. Both CBS and sucralfate given orally prevented dose dependently the formation of gastric lesions by acidified aspirin, ethanol and restraint stress, CBS being more potent on a weight-to-weight basis than sucralfate. CBS and sucralfate were also equally effective in enhancing the healing rate of chronic gastric and duodenal ulcer induced by serosal application of acetic acid, while methylated PGE2 was completely ineffective in this model. Non-colloidal bismuth subnitrate, in contrast to CBS, was ineffective against stress-induced lesions. CBS stimulated mucosal generation and luminal release of PGE2 dose dependently.