nitroarginine and dehydroleucodine

Previously we reported that dehydroleucodine (DhL), a sesquiterpene lactone, shows gastric and duodenal cytoprotective activity. The mechanism is not mediated by antiacid secretory action; DhL stimulated mucus production and indomethacin pretreatment reduced cytoprotective action. In the present study we demonstrated that the gastric cytoprotective effect is antagonized by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-L-arginine. The inhibitory action of NG-nitro-L-arginine is reversed by L-arginine, but not D-arginine. The findings suggest that NO is involved in the gastroprotection induced by DhL.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Ulcer Agents; Arginine; Central Nervous System Depressants; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; Enzyme Inhibitors; Ethanol; Female; Indomethacin; Lactones; Male; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; Nitroarginine; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Sesquiterpenes; Stomach Ulcer