Rebamipide: a gastrointestinal protective drug with pleiotropic activities.
Rebamipide, a gastroprotective drug, was developed in Japan and was proven to be superior to cetraxate, the former most prescribed drug of the same category, in 1989 in the treatment for gastric ulcers. The initially discovered basic mechanisms of action of rebamipide included its action as a prostaglandin inducer and oxygen free-radical scavenger. In the last 5 years, several basic and clinical studies have been performed for functional dyspepsia, chronic gastritis, NSAID-induced gastrointestinal injuries, gastric ulcer following eradication therapy for Helicobacter pylori, gastric ulcer after endoscopic surgery and ulcerative colitis. In addition, several molecules have been identified as therapeutic targets of rebamipide to explain its pleiotropic pharmacological actions. The aim of this article is to provide an update on the pharmacological and clinical profile of rebamipide and to explore further possibilities for additional indications.
Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kamigyo-ku, Kyoto, Japan. ynaito@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp
Yuji
Y
Naito
Toshikazu
T
Yoshikawa
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000409:Alanine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019386:Alendronate / Q000009:adverse effects; D000493:Allopurinol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005756:Gastritis / Q000188:drug therapy; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D015363:Quinolones / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D051381:Rats; D013276:Stomach Ulcer / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000897:Anti-Ulcer Agents; D015363:Quinolones; D000493:Allopurinol; C052785:rebamipide; D000409:Alanine; D019386:Alendronate