¹Oita University Hospital, Oita, Japan

Abstract

Background: Ecabet, an antiulcer drug, has gastric protective effects that are improvement of blood flow or promotion of bicarbonate secretion. Recently, capsaicin sensitive afferent nerves play an important role in gastric mucosal defensive mechanism. Capsaicin stimulates afferent nerves and enhances the release of calcitonine gene-related peptide (CGRP) and substance P in the stomach. We studied the effect of ecabet on human plasma CGRP and substance P in healthy subjects.

Methods: Ecabet at a dose of 1000 mg or placebo was orally administered in five healthy male volunteers. The blood samples were taken before and till 240 min after administration, followed by the extracting procedure, and submitted to the high sensitive enzyme immunoassay system for CGRP and substance P as previously developed.

Results: Single administration of ecabet caused significant (P <0.05) increases of plasma CGRP levels at 40–180 min, and in plasma substance P levels at 40–120 min, compared with placebo, respectively.

Conclusions: In this study, ecabet modulates the activity of capsaicin sensitive affrent nerves and increases the release of CGRP and substance P in plasma, that way be a key mechanism underlying its gastroprotective action.