Preliminary studies on the effect of rebamipide against the trypsin and egg-albumin induced experimental model of asthma.

The present investigation was carried out to study the effect of rebamipide in experimentally induced bronchial asthma in mice. Trypsin and egg-albumin induced chronic model of asthma was used and various parameters were measured on the 35th day. The asthmatic control group showed lower level of haemoglobin saturation with oxygen, tidal volume, airflow rate and higher respiratory rate, serum bicarbonate level, eosinophil count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and histamine level compared to the normal control group. Dexamethasone and rebamipide treated groups showed the return of all the above parameters towards normal values. Histopathological examination of lungs showed more prominent alveolar and muscular layer destruction in the asthmatic control group than in dexamethasone and rebamipide treated groups. Rebamipide showed a beneficial effect and might be used for the treatment of bronchial asthma.