ANTIULCER COMPOSITION

Abstract: A composition comprising a compound of the following formula or a salt thereof wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group is highly safe and useful as an antiulcer agent.

Description: The present invention relates to a novel antiulcer agent. The incidence of peptic ulcer due to the intake of pharmaceuticals or alcoholic beverages and particularly arising from mental stresses has been increasing year by year and a variety of drugs for combating this disease are being explored and developed. However, the drugs heretofore available have strong side effects or suffer from a gradual loss of potency in repeated use or a withdrawal of them may cause recurrences. Thus, we do not know of a drug that is impeccable. These circumstances have been responsible for a standing demand for an antiulcer drug free of the above-mentioned shortcomings. The present invention is directed to the use of a compound of the following formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents a hydrogen or a methyl group for the manufacture of an injectable medicament for the treatment of peptic ulcer. The compound included as an active ingredient in the antiulcer composition of the invention is phosphoric acid diester of L-ascorbic acid and α, β, γ or δ -tocopherol. α , β , γ or δ -Tocopherol is known compound having vitamin E activity, while ascorbic acid is known to be anti-scurvy substance. Both have been widely used as medicines having such activities, and the latter, ascorbic acid, has been used as an antioxidant for food and other products by taking advantage of its antioxidative activity. The synergistic antioxidative action of vitamin C and vitamin E is known from J.E. Packer et al., "Direct observation of a free radical interaction between vitamin E and vitamin C", Nature 178, 737-738 (1979). Furthermore, it is known that vitamin E possesses a protective effect against gastric ulcers (T. Javor et al., In. J. Tiss. Reac., vol. 8, no. 1, 35-40 (1986)). The compound employed in the present invention is already known as a prophylactic and therapeutic agent for cataract and climacteric disturbance (Japanese Patent Kokai 59-219295) but its effectiveness against peptic ulcer is not known. We investigated the antiulcer activity of various compounds and found that compounds of the general formula wherein R₁ and R₂ each is a hydrogen atom or a methyl group and salts thereof (hereinafter referred to collectively as the compound of the invention) are very effective for peptic ulcer. The present invention is based on the above finding. The present invention provides an antiulcer composition. As is obvious from its chemical structure, the compound used according to the present invention is a compound constructed by coupling ascorbic acid to tocopherol through phosphoric acid. Because of the fact that the compound exhibits antiinflammatory activity, this compound has been demonstrated to be effective as a therapeutic agent for hemorrhoids and as an antirheumatic agent. The compound used according to the present invention can be produced by the methods described in, among others, Japanese Patent Kokai 59-219295 and Japanese Patent Application 61-46878. The active ingredient of the present antiulcer composition shows very low toxicity. For instance, the toxicity in rat of disodium salt of phosphoric acid diester of L-ascorbic acid and DL-α-tocopherol was observed as follows: LD₅₀ Per os > 10,000mg/kg Subcutaneous administration 793mg/kg In the production of the antiulcer composition of the invention, the compound of the invention, either the free acid or a salt thereof, is processed into dosage forms suitable for administration. The salt may, for example, be the sodium salt, potassium salt, magnesium salt or calcium salt, and any of them can be used for purposes of the invention. The composition of the invention can be administered parenterally. For parenteral administration, it may be preferably be formulated into injectable preparation. The amount of the compound of the invention in such an antiulcer composition varies with the dosage form selected, symptoms to be treated and so on. By way of example, injections preferably contain 0.01 to 10 (W/V)% of the compound. Formulation of the compound of the invention can be carried out by procedures known per se. In case of preparing injectable solution, the sodium or potassium salt of the compound of the invention is dissolved or suspended in distilled water and after adjustment to a pH approximating that of body fluid (4-10, preferably 5-9) with hydrochloric acid, acetic acid or the like as required and addition of an isotonizing agent (e.g sorbitol, glycerol, polyethylene glycol, propyl glycol, glucose and sodium chloride), the solution is aseptically filtered to give an injection. Unless contrary to the purpose of the invention, the antiulcer composition of the invention may be further formulated in combination with other drugs, such as other antiulcer agents, analgesics, nutritive agents and digestants. The following experimental and preparation examples are further illustrative of the invention. In the following examples, the terms "α-EPC", "β-EPC", "γ-EPC" and "δ-EPC" respectively denote the compound of the formula [I] wherein: and optical rotations of tocopherols in the respective molecules are all DL-form. Experimental Example 1 Effect on rat stress ulcer The test drug was administered orally to male Wistar rats weighing 230-270 g and after 30 minutes, the four limbs of each rat were fixed to a board with tying thread. The rats were then immersed in water at 23° C for 5 hours for stress loading. Ten minutes before water immersion, 3 ml/kg of 5 % Pontamine Sky Blue was intravenously injected. After this 5-hour water immersion, the rats were removed from the water and the stomach was excised and fixed in 1 % aqueous formaldehyde. Then, the length of the gastric ulcer induced was measured. The results are shown in Table 1. In the above table, each value is the mean± S.E.(standard error) and the figure in parentheses denotes the number of the cases. Experimental Example 2 Effect on rat stress ulcer The test drug was administered intraperitoneally to male Wistar rats weighing about 150 g. After 30 minutes, each rat was fixed to a board with tying thread and immersed in water at 23° C for 7 hours for stress loading. Ten minutes before water immersion, 3 ml/kg of 5 % Pontamine Sky Blue was intravenously administered. After this 7-hour water immersion, the rats were removed from the water and the stomach was excised and fixed in 1 % aqueous formaldehyde. Then, the length (mm) of the gastric ulcer induced was measured. The results are shown in Table 2. In the above table, each value is the mean ± S.E. and the figure in the parentheses denotes the number of cases. Experimental Example 3 Effect on indomethacin-induced ulcer Male Donryu rats weighing 180-200 g were fasted for 24 hours and, then, a suspension of indomethacin in 1 % carboxymethylcellulose (30 mg/5mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected. The test drug was orally administered 30 minutes before indomethacin loading. Ten minutes before sacrifice at 7 hours after indomethacin loading, 3 ml/kg 5 % Pontamine Sky Blue was intravenously injected. After sacrifice, the stomach was excised and fixed in 1 % aqueous formaldehyde. Then, the length (mm) of the gastric ulcer induced was measured. The results are shown in Table 3. In the above table, each value is the mean ± S.E. and the figure in parentheses denotes the number of cases. Experimental Example 4 Effect on rat stress ulcer The test drugs were administered intraperitoneally to male Wistar rats weighing about 130-190 g and after 30 minutes, the four limbs of each rat were fixed to a board with tying thread. The rats were then immersed in water at 23°C for 7 hours for stress loading. Ten minutes before water immersion, 3 ml/kg of 5 % Pontamine Sky Blue was intravenously injected. After 7-hour water immersion, the rats were removed from the water and stomach was excised and fixed in 1 % aqueous formaldehyde. Then length of gastric ulcer induced was measured. The results are shown in Table 4. In the above table, each value is the mean±S.E. and the figure in the parentheses denotes the number of cases. As is obvious from the table 4, the compound of the present invention exhibits more potent effectiveness against gastric ulcer in lower concentration than the widely used cimetidine. Preparation Example 1 To about 80 ml of distilled water for injection are dissolved 0.02 g of disodium salt of EPC and adjusted to a pH 6 with hydrochloric acid. To the resultant solution was added 5 g of glucose. The mixture is thoroughly stirred to make the total 100 ml. The solution is aseptically filtered to give an injection.

Claims: Claims for the following Contracting States : AT, BE, CH, DE, FR, GB, IT, LI, LU, NL, SE Use of a compound of the following formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group for the manufacture of an injectable medicament for the treatment of peptic ulcer. Use as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a hydrogen atom and R₂ is a hydrogen atom. Use as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a hydrogen atom and R₂ is a methyl group. Use as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a methyl group and R₂ is a hydrogen atom. Use as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a methyl group and R₂ is a methyl group. Claims for the following Contracting States : ES, GR Method of using a compound of the following formula or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof wherein R₁ and R₂ each represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group for the manufacture of an injectable medicament for the treatment of peptic ulcer. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a hydrogen atom and R₂ is a hydrogen atom. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a hydrogen atom and R₂ is a methyl group. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a methyl group and R₂ is a hydrogen atom. Method as claimed in claim 1, wherein R₁ is a methyl group and R₂ is a methyl group.

Inventors: OGATA, KAZUMI, OGAWA, TAKAHIRO, SAKAUE, TAKAHIRO
Applicants: SENJU PHARMACEUTICAL CO., LTD.
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A61K31
IPC codes: C07F9, C07H11, A61P1, A61K31