Comparative effect of cimetidine and gefarnate on normal and ulcerated albino rats

Antiulcerogenic efficacies of cimetidine and gefarnate were compared in the normal, aspirin, acetic acid and stress induced ulcerated albino rats. In addition, their effects on output of gastric acid, pepsin and hexosamine were studied in normal and experimentally ulcerated rats. Gefarnate increased the glucosamine. levels in normal and ulcerated rats A significant reduction in ulcer formation was observed with gefarnate in aspirin, acetic acid and stress induced ulcerous rats. Cimetidine did not reduce acid output in the presence of exogenous hydrochloric acid in aspirin treated rats. A decrease in glucosamine concentration was also observed with cimetidine in aspirin treated rats. Thus cimetidine did not significantly reduced ulcer formation in ulcerated rats. In the present study, gefarnate was found to be more effective than cimetidine because of its effect in normalization of mucus barrier.