Acute anti-inflammatory activity and gastrointestinal tolerability of diclofenac and nitrofenac.
Diclofenac and its derivative nitrofenac were compared to test their anti-inflammatory efficacy and gastrointestinal toxicity in rats. A similar good anti-inflammatory activity of the two drugs was observed in carrageenan oedema and a marked gastrointestinal toxicity was induced by diclofenac, while nitrofenac failed to produce gastric damage even with very high doses (50 and 100 mg/kg). The lack of the gastric ulcers in rats treated with nitrofenac could be due to the absorption of the drug as an inactive inhibitor of PG synthesis and/or to the fact that probably nitric oxide is released in the intestine and plays an important protective role in maintaining the tissue integrity.
Conforti
A
A
Institute of Pharmacology, University of Verona, Italy.
Donini
M
M
Brocco
G
G
Del Soldato
P
P
Benoni
G
G
Cuzzolin
L
L
D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002351:Carrageenan; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004487:Edema / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D004008:Diclofenac; C087608:nitrofenac; D002351:Carrageenan