Magaldrate stimulates endogenous prostaglandin E2 synthesis in human gastric mucosa in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) plays an important role in the inhibition of gastric acid production and exerts cytoprotective action. The in vitro and in vivo effect of magaldrate, an aluminum containing antacid, on PGE2 synthesis in the gastric mucosa was investigated.

METHODOLOGY

In the first part of the study, magaldrate was added to a suspension of isolated gastric mucosal cells. In the second part, the antacid gel was applied to the gastric mucosa during gastroscopy and biopsies were taken from the same site 5 and 10 min later.

RESULTS

The antacid significantly stimulated PGE2 release from the suspension of isolated gastric cells in vitro. The biopsies obtained after the application of magaldrate showed an increased PGE2 production compared to specimens obtained before.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that in addition to its neutralizing capacity as an antacid, magaldrate contributes to the cytoprotective activity of the mucosa by stimulating endogenous PGE2 synthesis.