Short communication Chronic treatment with zinc hydroaspartate induces anti-inflammatory and anti-ulcerogenic activity in rats Magdalena Gaweł a , Anna Lipkowska a , Małgorzata Herman c , Magdalena Golasik c , Wojciech Piekoszewski c,d , Ewa Gomolka e , Małgorzata Schlegel-Zawadzka g , Włodzimierz Opoka h , Gabriel Nowak b,f , Tadeusz Librowski a, * a Department of Radioligands, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krako ´w, Poland b Department of Cytobiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krako ´w, Poland c Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krako ´w, Poland d Laboratory of High Resolution Mass Spectrometry, Regional Laboratory of Physicochemical Analysis and Structural Research, Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University, Krako ´w, Poland e Laboratory of Analytical Toxicology and Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krako ´w, Poland f Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences and Center of Excellence in Neuropsychopharmacology, Krako ´w, Poland g Department of Human Nutrition, Institute of Public Health, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Faculty of Health Sciences, Krako ´w, Poland h Department of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Jagiellonian University, Medical College, Krako ´w, Poland Introduction Zinc is involved in the immune system’s functioning properly. Zinc deficiency impairs both innate and acquired immunity [1]. It leads to a reduction in the activity of NK cells, reduces the chemotaxis and phagocytosis processes, as well as the activity of granulocytes, monocytes and macrophages. Acquired immunode- ficiency disorder manifests itself in the functioning and maturation of T and B cells [2]. The latest data show that the addition of zinc for the treatment of pneumonia shortens the duration of the illness. In addition, it is believed that zinc supplementation, when strictly controlled, can be used in the treatment of autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, due to the influence of the micronutrient on the activation and proliferation of T lymphocytes and is not kept by the production of cytokines. The anti-inflammatory properties of zinc are closely related to its antioxidant activity [3]. The most common adverse effects of NSAIDs include disorders of the gastrointestinal tract [4]. Mild symptoms such as nausea, diarrhea, abdominal pain, loss of appetite can be demonstrated. More serious symptoms include severe damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract manifested by bleeding, ulceration, erosions and perforations (often leading to death) [5]. The lower part of the gastrointestinal tract may also be subject to such damage. It leads to the protein-losing enteropathy or ulcers, colitis resembling ulcerative colitis (UC). The risk of damage increases during Helicobacter pylori infection as a result of excessive alcohol consumption and the use of other drugs with an ulcerogenic effect, such as glukocorticosteroids [6]. NSAIDs are among the most Pharmacological Reports 66 (2014) 862–866 A R T I C L E I N F O Article history: Received 29 January 2014 Received in revised form 14 May 2014 Accepted 21 May 2014 Available online 3 June 2014 Keywords: Zinc hydroaspartate Chronic Anti-inflammatory- Anti-ulcerogenic- Analgesic activity A B S T R A C T Background: The previous study indicated the enhancement of the anti-inflammatory effect of ketoprofen by acute and sub chronic administration of zinc hydroaspartate. Methods: The present study examined anti-inflammatory, anti-ulcerogenic and analgesic activity induced by chronic (14 days) administration of ZHA (30 mg/kg, po), with a combination of a single administration of ketoprofen, in rats. Moreover, the zinc concentration in serum and stomach mucosa was also determined. Results: Chronic ZHA po administration exhibits anti-inflammatory activity and enhanced the effect induced by ketoprofen. Likewise, ZHA administration demonstrated anti-ulcerogenic activity. While ZHA alone did not exhibit analgesic action, it enhanced the effect of ketoprofen. Conclusions: The present study demonstrated for the first time that chronic treatment with zinc salt exhibits anti-inflammatory activity. Besides, anti-ulcerogenic activity and the enhancing properties of zinc to ketoprofen induced anti-inflammatory and analgesic activity were also shown. ß 2014 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved. * Corresponding author. E-mail addresses: mflibrow@cyf-kr.edu.pl, mflibrow@gmail.com (T. Librowski). Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Pharmacological Reports jou r nal h o mep ag e: w ww .elsevier .co m /loc ate/p h arep http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.pharep.2014.05.007 1734-1140/ß 2014 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Urban & Partner Sp. z o.o. All rights reserved.