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Local anesthetics have beneficial effects on colitis. Dextran-5-(4-ethoxycarbonylphenylazo)salicylic acid ester (Dex-5-ESA), designed as a polymeric colon-specific prodrug liberating 5-ASA and benzocaine in the large intestine, was prepared and its therapeutic activity against colitis was evaluated using a TNBS-induced rat colitis model. Dex-5-ESA liberated 5-ASA and benzocaine in the cecal contents while (bio)chemically stable in the small intestinal contents and mucosa. Oral administration of Dex-5-ESA (equivalent to 10 mg 5-ASA/kg, twice a day) alleviated colonic injury and reduced MPO activity in the inflamed colon. In parallel, pro-inflammatory mediators, COX-2, iNOS and CINC-3, elevated by TNBS-induced colitis, were substantially diminished in the inflamed colon. Dex-5-ESA was much more effective for the treatment of colitis than 5-(4-ethoxycarbonylphenylazo)salicylic acid (5-ESA) that may not deliver benzocaine to the large intestine. Our data suggest that Dex-5-ESA is a polymeric colon-specific prodrug, liberating 5-ASA and benzocaine in the target site (large intestine), probably exerting anti-colitic effects by combined action of 5-ASA and benzocaine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For an effort to improve therapeutic property of metronidazole (MTZ) which is a drug of choice for protozoal infections such as luminal amoebiasis, sulfate conjugated metronidazole (MTZS) was prepared and evaluated as a colon-specific prodrug of MTZ. The apparent partition coefficient of MTZ was greatly reduced by the sulfate conjugation. While (bio)chemically stable in the contents of the upper intestine, MTZS was rapidly cleaved to liberate MTZ on incubation with the cecal contents of rats. MTZ liberated from MTZS metabolized quickly at least partly by a microbial nitroreductase, suggesting the relevance of the metabolism to bioactivation of MTZ for antimicrobial action. Consistent with the hypothesis, MTZS elicited antibacterial activity in the cecal contents, which was as potent as free MTZ. The systemic absorption of MTZS was very low after oral administration of MTZS. In parallel with this, whereas MTZ disappeared mostly during the transit of the proximal small intestine, a substantial amount of MTZS remained in the small intestine, moving down to the large intestine where it metabolized rapidly. In addition to the efficient colonic delivery of MTZS, MTZS markedly reduced the systemic absorption of MTZ. Taken together, MTZS may be a potential colon-specific prodrug of MTZ which possesses improved therapeutic and toxicological properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dextran-flufenamic acid ester (Dex-FFA) with varied degree of substitution (DS) was prepared by imidazolide method. Dex-FFA was stable in pH 1.2 or pH 6.8 buffer. The depolymerization degree of Dex-FFA by dextranase decreased as DS increased. Dex-FFA with DS of 13 or 20 released FFA up to 70% or 21% of the dose, respectively, on 24 h-incubation with the 10% cecal contents. FFA was liberated up to 29% of the dose on 24 h-incubation of dextranase pre-treated Dex-FFA with the homogenates of the upper intestine, whereas no FFA was detected devoid of dextranse-pretreatment. Upon oral administration of Dex-FFA (DS 13, 20 mg equivalent of FFA/kg) or FFA (10 mg/kg) to rats, tmax for FFA with Dex-FFA administration delayed approximately 6 h compared with that of free FFA administration, while Cmax for FFA was similar. The plasma level for FFA became greater around 6 h after administration of Dex-FFA than free FFA and it was maintained throughout the period of 24 h-experiment. Dex-FFA markedly attenuated gastric ulcerogenicity of FFA. Taken together, Dex-FFA could be useful as a colon-specific prodrug which possesses anti-inflammatory properties and offers opportunities as a chronotherapeutic approach for the treatment of arthritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

N-Nicotinoylglycyl-2-(5-fluorouracil-1-yl)-d,l-glycine (NGFG) was synthesized as a colon-specific prodrug of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) expecting that hydrolysis of nicotinoyl and glycyl moieties by microbial enzymes in the colon will give 2-(5-fluorouracil-1-yl)-d,l-glycine, which releases 5-FU spontaneously. To in vitro-evaluate colon targetability of NGFG, apparent partition coefficient and chemical/biochemical stability of NGFG in the contents or/and tissue of the various segments of the gastrointestinal tract were determined. Low partition coefficient and stability of NGFG in the upper intestinal condition suggested its delivery to the colon in intact form after oral administration. Incubation with rat cecal contents produced 5-FU and its metabolite about 16%. Structural modification to enhance amide hydrolysis, the rate determining step in NGFG bioactivation, is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]