Evaluation of gastroprotective activity of a chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol

Abstract

Introduction: Development of new gastroprotectants for treatment of acid-related digestive disorders remains an ur­gent task of gastroenterology and pharmacology, due to the wide prevalence of this category of diseases, as well as the problem of insufficient efficacy and safety of the existing regimens. The aim of this study is to develop a chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol, and experimentally evaluate its gastroprotective activity in preclinical studies. Materials and methods: Preclinical studies were carried out on 4 different models of ulcer formation: NSAID gast­ropathy, 2 schemes (preventive or curative), ethanol-induced ulcerogenesis, and stress-induced ulcerogenesis. The gel under study containing chitosan and dexpanthenol was used in 3 doses (0.08, 0.16 and 0.24 ml/100 g of body weight). Results and discussion: The chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol in models of NSAID gastropathy and stress-induced ulcerogenesis (preventive scheme) has a pronounced gastroprotective effect, exceeding the effect of su­cralfate. In NSAID-gastropathy model (curative scheme), chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol has a gastropro­tective effect exceeding that of omeprazole, and also reduces the manifestations of organotropic toxicity of diclofenac sodium, exhibiting, in addition to the gastroprotective effect, anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective and hemostatic prop­erties according to laboratory and histological studies. Conclusion: The chitosan-based gel containing dexpanthenol is low toxic and has a pronounced gastroprotective effect in models of NSAID gastropathy (preventive and curative schemes) and stress-induced ulcerogenesis, which makes it promising for the prevention and treatment of ulcer formation in NSAID gastropathy and stress ulcers, in order to reduce the number and area of ulcerative defects, and to reduce the manifestations of organotropic toxicity of NSAIDs. Graphical abstract: