ANTI-INFLAMMATORY, ANALGESIC, AND GASTRIC TISSUE EFFECTS OF LACIDIPINE, ASPIRIN, AND THEIR COMBINATION

The increase in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) activity and the decrease in COX-1 activity were associated with increased intracellular calcium. Lacidipine, a calcium channel blocker, can protect gastric tissue from aspirin-induced damage while potentiating the analgesic and anti-inflammatory properties of aspirin. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and gastric tissue effects of using lacidipine and aspirin in combination and separately. (LA). Twenty-four rats were randomly divided into CG (carrageenan control), LCG (carrageenan + lacidipine), ACG (carrageenan + aspirin), and LACG (carrageenan + LA) groups. Lacidipine 4 mg/kg, aspirin 100 mg/kg were given orally to the animals on an empty stomach. Carrageenan was injected into the hind paws of rats to induce inflammation and pain. Paw volumes were measured at 0, 1, and 4 hours after carrageenan administration, and paw pain thresholds were measured at 1 and 4 hours. After euthanasia (thiopental sodium, 50 mg/kg), paw and gastric tissues were excised and biochemically analyzed. Gastric tissues were also examined macroscopically. In the paw tissues of animals receiving lacidipine, malondialdehyde (MDA) was lower than in the CG and AG, while total glutathione (tGSH) was higher (p<0.05). Lacidipine inhibited COX-2, but not COX-1 isoenzyme. LA—lacidipine, and aspirin—inhibited inflammation and hyperalgesia at 1 and 4 hours, respectively. Lacidipine prevented aspirin-induced COX-1 inhibition and gastric ulcer formation. Lacidipine combined with aspirin may be beneficial for initiating its anti-inflammatory activity early, achieving a potent analgesic effect, and preventing aspirin-induced gastric injury. © 2023 by Polish Pharmaceutical Society. This is an open-access article under the CC BY NC license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/).