Carbenoxolone Sodium Protects Rat Gastric Mucosa against Ethanol-Induced Necrosis

Abstract

Gastric necrosis was induced in the rat by oral administration of absolute ethanol. Carbenoxolone sodium, administered orally, but not intravenously, reduced the severity of ethanol-induced lesions in a dose-responsive manner. Maximum inhibition of lesion formation occurred when carbenoxolone was administered 15 min before ethanol. Our results suggest that carbenoxolone, like prostaglandins, is cytoprotective to the rat gastric mucosa. Similarities in the time response for cytoprotection by these two compounds suggest that they exert their effect by a common mechanism.