This study aimed at developing a novel
rebamipide liquid for an effective treatment of
oral mucositis. The healing effects of a variety of liquids comprising submicronized
rebamipide crystals were investigated using a rat
cauterization-induced
oral ulcer model. Whereas 2%
rebamipide liquid comprising micro-crystals did not exhibit significant curative effect, 2%
rebamipide liquids comprising submicronized crystals with moderate viscosities exhibited healing effects following intra-
oral administration. The 2% and 4% optimized
rebamipide liquids showed significant healing effects in the rat
oral ulcer model (p<0.01). In addition, in the rat radiation-induced
glossitis model, whereby the injury was caused to the tongue by exposing only around the rat's snout to a 15 Gy of X-irradiation, the 2% optimized
rebamipide liquid significantly reduced the percent area of ulcerated injury (p<0.05). In conclusion, the submicronized
rebamipide liquid with moderate viscosity following intra-
oral administration showed better both healing effect in the rat
oral ulcer model and preventive effect in the rat irradiation-induced
glossitis model.