Pharmacokinetics of a ginseng saponin metabolite compound K in rats

The absorption, dose-linearity and pharmacokinetics of compound K, a major intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginsenosides, were evaluated in vitro and in vivo. Using the Caco-2 cell monolayers, compound K showed moderate permeability with no directional effects, thus suggesting passive diffusion. After intravenous dose (i.v.; 1, 2, and 10 mg/kg), no significant dose-dependency was found in Cl (17.3-31.3 ml/min/kg), Vss (1677-2744 ml/kg), dose-normalized AUC (41.8-57.8 microg.min/ml based on 1 mg/kg) and t1/2. The extent of urinary excretion was minimal for both i.v. and oral doses. The extent of compound K recovered from the entire gastrointestinal tract at 24h were 24.4%-26.2% for i.v. doses and 54.3%-81.7% for oral doses. Following oral administration (doses 5-20 mg/kg), dose-normalized AUC (based on 5 mg/kg) was increased at the 20 mg/kg dose (85.3 microg.min/ml) compared with those at lower doses (4.50-10.5 microg.min/ml). Subsequently, the absolute oral bioavailability (F) was increased from 1.8%-4.3% at the lower doses to 35.0% at the 20 mg/kg dose. The increased F could be related to the saturation of carrier-mediated hepatic uptake and esterification of compound K with fatty acids in the liver.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of KR-31378, a new neuroprotective agent for ischaemia-reperfusion damage in dogs

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters of KR-31378, a new neuroprotective agent for ischaemia-reperfusion damage, were evaluated after intravenous and oral administration of the drug at doses of 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg to male beagle dogs. After intravenous administration, the dose-normalized (based on 5 mg/kg) areas under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity (AUC values, 725, 1450 and 2300 micro g min/ml for 5, 10 and 25 mg/kg, respectively) were significantly different among the three dose ranges studied; the value increased more proportionally as the dose increased. This could be due to slower total body clearance (Cl) with increasing doses (6.90, 3.46 and 2.17 ml/min/kg). The slower Cl value with increasing doses may be due to saturable metabolism of KR-31378 in dogs. After oral administration, the dose-normalized (based on 5 mg/kg) AUC values (833, 1450 and 1920 micro g min/ml) at 5 mg/kg were significantly smaller than those at 10 and 25 mg/kg. Note that the AUC values were comparable (not significantly different) between intravenous and oral administration at all doses studied, indicating that the absorption of KR-31378 from the gastrointestinal tract was essentially complete and the first-pass (gastric, intestinal and/or hepatic first-pass) effects were almost negligible in dogs.     

Dose-linear pharmacokinetics of oleanolic acid after intravenous and oral administration in rats

The pharmacokinetics of oleanolic acid was evaluated in vitro and in vivo. From Caco-2 cell permeation studies, oleanolic acid was a low permeability compound with no directional effects, suggesting a low in vivo absorption mediated by a passive diffusion. Oleanolic acid was metabolically unstable following incubation with rat liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. After intravenous injection at doses of 0.5, 1 and 2 mg/kg doses, oleanolic acid showed dose-linear pharmacokinetics as evidenced by unaltered CL (28.6-33.0 ml/min/kg), Vss (437-583 ml/kg), dose-normalized AUC (16.0-17.9 microg min/ml based on 1 mg/kg) and t1/2 (41.9-52.7 min). Following oral administration of oleanolic acid at doses of 10, 25 and 50 mg/kg, Tmax, t1/2, dose-normalized Cmax (66-74 ng/ml based on 25 mg/kg) and dose-normalized AUC (5.4-5.9 microg min/ml based on 25 mg/kg) were comparable between 25 and 50 mg/kg dose, but the plasma concentrations at 10 mg/kg dose were not measurable as they were below the limit of quantitation (2 ng/ml). The absolute oral bioavailability was 0.7% for oral doses of 25 and 50 mg/kg. The extent of urinary excretion was minimal for both i.v. and oral doses. The very low oral bioavailability of oleanolic acid could be due to a poor absorption and extensive metabolic clearance.     

Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of a new reversible proton pump inhibitor,KR-60436, after intravenous and oral administration to rats: gastrointestinal first-pass effect

Dose-independent pharmacokinetic parameters of KR-60436, a new proton pump inhibitor, were evaluated after intravenous (i.v.; 5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) and oral (20, 50, and 100 mg/kg) administration to rats. The hepatic, gastric, and intestinal first-pass effects were also measured after iv, intraportal (i.p.), intragastric (i.g.), and intraduodenal (id) administrations to rats of a dose of 20 mg/kg. The areas under the plasma concentration-time curve from time to zero to time infinity (AUCs) were independent of iv and oral dose ranges studied; the dose-normalized AUCs were 83.0-104 microg. min/mL (based on 5 mg/kg) and 78.4-96.8 microg. min/mL (based on 20 mg/kg) for iv and oral administration, respectively. After an oral administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, approximately 3% of the oral dose was not absorbed, and the extent of absolute oral bioavaliability (F) was estimated to be 18.8%. The AUCs of KR-60436 after i.g. and i.d. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg were significantly smaller (82.4 and 57.5% decrease, respectively) than that after an i.p. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, suggesting that gastrointestinal first-pass effect of KR-60436 was approximately 80% of oral dose in rats (the gastric first-pass effect was approximately 25%). After an i.p. administration at a dose of 20 mg/kg, the AUC was 77.6% of an iv administration, suggesting that hepatic first-pass effect was approximately 22% of KR-60436 absorbed into the portal vein. Note that the value of 22% was equivalent to approximately 4% of the oral dose. Because only 17% of oral dose was absorbed into the portal vein, the low F of KR-60436 in rats was mainly due to considerable gastrointestinal first-pass effect, which was approximately 80% (the gastric first-pass effect was approximately 25%) of oral dose.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of a new neuroprotective agent for ischemia-reperfusion damage, KR-31378, in rats

The dose-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters of a new neuroprotective agent for ischemia-reperfusion damage, KR-31378, were evaluated after intravenous and oral administration, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg, to rats. After intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg, the dose-normalized (10 mg/kg) AUC (994 microg min/mL) was significantly greater than that at 10 (569 microg min/ml) and 20 (660 microg min/mL) mg/kg. This could be due to slower clearance (Cl) with increasing dosage (18.5, 14.6, and 10.2 mL/min/kg for 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg, respectively). The slower Cl with increasing dosage could be due to saturable metabolism of KR-31378 in rats and this could be supported by significantly slower Cl(nr) and significantly greater 24-h urinary excretion of the drug at 50 mg/kg than those at 10 and 20 mg/kg. After oral administration of 50 mg/kg, the dose-normalized (10 mg/kg) AUC (1160 microg min/mL) was significantly greater than that at 10 (572 microg min/mL) and 20 (786 microg min/mL) mg/kg. Note that the AUCs were comparable (not significantly different) between intravenous and oral administration at each dosage, indicating that the absorption from gastrointestinal tract was almost complete and the first-pass (gastric, intestinal, and hepatic) effect was not considerable after oral administration to rats.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of 1-(2-deoxy-beta-D- ribofuranosyl)-2,4-difluoro-5-iodobenzene: a potential mimic of 5-iodo-2'-deoxyuridine

The dose-range pharmacokinetics of l-(2-deoxy-beta-D-ribofuranosyl)-2,4-difluoro-5-iodobenzene (5-IDFPdR), a C-aryl nucleoside mimic of IUdR, were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats following single intravenous (i.v.) and oral doses. After i.v. administration, the blood clearance decreased from approximately 32 ml/min/kg at a dose of 15 mg/kg, to approximately 19 ml/min/kg when dosed at 54 mg/kg, and the elimination half-life increased from 8.4 min to 21.5 min, for the respective doses. While the dose-normalized area under the concentration-time curve (AUCnorm) remained practically unchanged (0.132 kg min ml(-1)) upon increasing the i.v. dose from 5 to 15 mg/kg, it increased by about 44% ( approximately 0.19 kg min ml(-1)) when the i.v. dose was increased from 15 to 54 mg/kg. Similarly, there was a dose-dependent increase in AUCnorm with increasing oral doses: AUCnorm increased by 49% as the oral dose increased from 20 to 40 mg/kg, and further by 55% as the oral dose was increased from 40 mg/kg to 54 mg/kg. For the respective oral doses, the elimination half-life increased from 24.5 min to 176 min, while blood clearance was reduced from approximately 37 ml/min/kg to approximately 17 ml/min/kg. The urinary recoveries of unchanged 5-IDFPdR and its glucuronides (as percent of the dose) were somewhat increased at higher doses. This increase was more pronounced following the highest oral dose. The total biliary recovery of 5-IDFPdR (as percent of the dose) was, however, decreased with increasing doses. The overall kinetic profile of 5-IDFPdR based on these data is suggestive of dose-dependent pharmacokinetics. Decreased elimination of 5-IDFPdR with increasing dose, as supported by longer elimination half-lives at higher doses, is one likely mechanism contributing to the dose-dependent behaviour of this compound. Saturable non-renal metabolism might explain the reduced total body clearance of 5-IDFPdR at higher doses, despite the unchanged or increased urinary clearance.For drugs exhibiting nonlinear kinetics, the dosage regimens may need to be carefully designed to avoid potential unpredictable toxicity and/or lack of pharmacological response associated with the disproportional changes in steady state drug concentrations on changing dose. Manifestation in the rat of nonlinear kinetics at doses of 5-IDFPdR, which may be of therapeutic relevance, warrants extended dose-range evaluations of this compound in future preclinical and clinical studies, to establish safe and efficacious dosage regimens.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of a new reversible proton pump inhibitor, DBM-819, after intravenous and oral administration to rats: hepatic first-pass effect.

The dose-dependent pharmacokinetic parameters of DBM-819 were evaluated after intravenous (5, 10 and 20 mg/kg) and oral (10, 20 and 50 mg/kg) administrations of the drug to rats. The hepatic first-pass effect was also measured after intravenous and intraportal administrations of the drug, 10 mg/kg, to rats. After intravenous administration, the dose-normalized (based on 5 mg/kg) area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to time infinity, AUC, at 20 mg/kg (27.0 and 45.8 microg min/ml) was significantly greater than that at 5 mg/kg due to saturable metabolism. After oral administration, the dose-normalized (based on 10 mg/kg) AUC(0-12 h) at 50 mg/kg (25.1, 18.3 and 49.2 microg min/ml) was significantly greater than those at 10 and 20 mg/kg again due to saturable metabolism. After oral administration of DBM-819, 10 mg/kg, 2.86% of oral dose was not absorbed and the extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) was estimated to be 46.7%. After intraportal administration of DBM-819, 10 mg/kg, the AUC was 51.9% of intravenous administration, suggesting that approximately 48.1% was eliminated by liver (hepatic first-pass effect). The considerable hepatic first-pass effect of DBM-819 was also supported by significantly greater AUC of M3 (3.70 and 6.86 microg min/ml), a metabolite of DBM-819, after intraportal administration. The AUCs of DBM-819 were not significantly different (comparable) between intraportal and oral administrations of the drug, 10 mg/kg, suggesting that gastrointestinal first-pass effect of DBM-819 was almost negligible in rats. At 10 mg/kg oral dose of DBM-819, the hepatic first-pass effect was approximately 48.1%, F was approximately 46.7 and 2.86% was not absorbed from gastrointestinal tract in rats.     

Pharmacokinetics of DA-6034, an agent for inflammatory bowel disease, in rats and dogs: Contribution of intestinal first-pass effect to low bioavailability in rats.

The pharmacokinetics of DA-6034 in rats and dogs and first-pass effect in rats were examined. After intravenous administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-infinity) values at 25 and 50mg/kg were significantly smaller than that at 10mg/kg. This could be due to significantly slower Cl(r) values than that at 10mg/kg, possibly due to saturated renal secretion at doses of 25 and 50mg/kg. After oral administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-12h) values at 50 and 100mg/kg were significantly smaller than that at 25mg/kg, possibly due to poor water solubility of the drug. The low F-value (approximately 0.136%) of DA-6034 at a dose of 50mg/kg in rats could be due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect (approximately 69% of oral dose) and unabsorbed fraction from the gastrointestinal tract (approximately 30.5%). The effect of cola beverage, cimetidine, or omeprazole on the AUC(0-24h) of DA-6034 was almost negligible in rats. Pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-6034 after intravenous and oral administration at various doses were dose-independent in dogs. DA-6034 was not accumulated in rats and dogs after consecutive 7 and 28 days oral administration, respectively. The stability, blood partition, and protein binding of DA-6034 were also discussed.     

Subacute toxicity and toxicokinetics of CJ-10882, a type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, after 4-week repeated oral administration in dogs.

The subacute toxicity and toxicokinetics of a type IV phosphodiesterase inhibitor, CJ-10882, were evaluated after single (on the 1st day) and 4-week (on the 27th day) oral administration of the drug, in doses of 0 (to serve as a control), 2, 10 and 50 mg/kg/day, to male and female dogs (n=3 for male and female dogs for each dose). During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weight and histopathology were examined. The 4-week repeated oral doses of CJ-10882 resulted in salivation, vomiting, and atrophy of the thymus. The absolute toxic dose was 50 mg/kg/day and the level at which no adverse effects were observed was 2 mg/kg/day for male and female dogs. There were no significant gender differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of CJ-10882 for each dose after both single and 4-week oral administration. The pharmacokinetic parameters of CJ-10882 were dose independent after a single oral administration; the time to reach a peak plasma concentration (T(max)) and the dose-normalized area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 8 h in plasma (AUC(0-8 h)) were not significantly different among three doses. The accumulation of CJ-10882 after 4-week oral administration was not notable at the toxic dose of 50 mg/kg/day. For example, after 4-week administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-8 h) value at 50 mg/kg/day (0.132 microg h/ml) was not significantly greater than that at 10 mg/kg/day (0.131 microg h/ml). After 4-week oral administration, the dose-normalized C(max) and AUC(0-8 h) at 50 mg/kg/day were not significantly higher and greater, respectively, than those after the single oral administration.     

Subacute toxicities and toxicokinetics of a new erectogenic, DA-8159, after single and 4-week repeated oral administration in dogs.

The subacute toxicities and toxicokinetics of a new erectogenic, DA-8159, were evaluated after single (at the 1st day) and 4-week (at the 28th day) oral administration of the drug, in doses of 0 (to serve as a control), 12.5, 50 and 200 mg/kg/day, to male and female dogs (n=3 for male and female dogs for each dose). DA-8159 had an effect on the immune-related organs (or tissues), circulatory systems, liver, adrenal glands, ovaries and pancreas. The toxic dose was 200 mg/kg and no observed adverse effect level was less than 50 mg/kg for male and female dogs. There were no significant gender differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 for each dose after both single and 4-week oral administration. The pharmacokinetic parameters of DA-8159 were dose-independent after single oral administration; the time to reach a peak plasma concentration (T(max)) and the dose-normalized area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 24 h in plasma (AUC(0-24 h)) were not significantly different among three doses. However, accumulation of DA-8159 after 4-week oral administration was considerable at toxic dose, 200 mg/kg/day. For example, after 4-week administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-24 h) value at 200 mg/kg/day (4.71 and 15.3 microg h/ml) was significantly greater than that at 12.5 mg/kg/day. After 4-week oral administration, the dose-normalized C(max) and AUC(0-24 h) at 200 mg/kg/day were significantly higher and greater, respectively, than those after a single oral administration.     

Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics of a new Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor KR-33028 in rats

The dose-dependency of the pharmacokinetics of a new Na(+)/H(+) exchanger inhibitor, KR-33028 was evaluated in rats after intravenous and oral administration. After intravenous administration of KR-33028 (1, 5, 10 and 20mg/kg doses), the systemic clearance (Cl) was reduced and AUC was nonlinearly increased as a function of dose. The volume of distribution (V(ss)), however, remained unchanged as the dose was increased, which was consistent with unaltered plasma protein binding in vitro (unbound fraction = 0.09-0.12). Upon oral administration (2, 10 and 20mg/kg doses), KR-33028 was rapidly absorbed, and this was consistent with high Caco-2 P(app) values found in vitro. There were nonlinear increases in AUC and C(max), and the absolute oral bioavailability (F) was significantly increased as the dose was increased (F = 23.3%, 40.7% and 78.2% for 2, 10 and 20mg/kg doses, respectively). The extent of urinary excretion was low for both intravenous (0.5-0.7%) and oral (0.2-0.8%) doses. The reduced systemic clearance and increased oral bioavailability at high doses appears to be due to a saturable first-pass metabolism.     

Pharmacokinetics of a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, apicidin, in rats

This study is the first report of the pharmacokinetics of a novel histone deacetylase inhibitor, apicidin, in rats after i.v. and oral administration. Apicidin was injected intravenously at doses of 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 mg/kg. The terminal elimination half-life (t1/2), systemic clearance (Cl) and steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) remained unaltered as a function of dose, with values in the range 0.8-1.1 h, 59.6-68.0 ml/min/kg and 2.4-2.7 l/kg, respectively. Whereas, the initial serum concentration (C0) and AUC increased linearly as the dose was increased. Taken together, the pharmacokinetics of apicidin were linear over the i.v. dose range studied. The extent of urinary and biliary excretion of apicidin was minimal (0.017%-0.020% and 0.049% +/- 0.016%, respectively). Oral pharmacokinetic studies were conducted in fasting and non-fasting groups of rats at a dose of 10 mg/kg. The Tmax, Cl/F and Vz/F were in the range 0.9-1.1 h, 520.3-621.2 ml/min/kg and 67.6-84.4 l/kg, respectively. No significant difference was observed in the oral absorption profiles between the two groups of rats. Apicidin was poorly absorbed, with the absolute oral bioavailability of 19.3% and 14.2% in fasting and non-fasting rats.     

Subacute toxicity and toxicokinetics of a new antibiotic,DW-224a,after single and 4-week repeated oral administration in dogs

The subacute toxicity and toxicokinetics of a new fluoroquinolone antibiotic, DW-224a, were evaluated after single (on the 1st day) and 4-week (on the 28th day) oral administration of the drug at doses of 0 (to serve as a control), 10, 30, and 90 mg/kg/d, to male and female dogs (n=3 for male and female dogs for each dose). During the test period, clinical signs, mortality, body weight, food consumption, ophthalmoscopy, urinalysis, hematology, serum biochemistry, gross findings, organ weight and histopathology were examined. The 4-week repeated oral dose of DW-224a resulted in vomiting, salivation, increased serum cholesterol level, and atrophy of thymus and testes. The target organ was determined to be the thymus and testes. The absolute toxic dose of DW-224a was 30 mg/kg and the level at which no adverse effects were observed was 10 mg/kg for both sexes. There were no significant gender differences in the pharmacokinetic parameters of DW-224a for each dose after both single and 4-week oral administration. The pharmacokinetic parameters of DW-224a were dose independent after a single oral administration; the time to reach the peak plasma concentration (T(max)) and the dose-normalized area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to 24 h in plasma (AUC(0-24 h)) were not significantly different among the three doses. The accumulation of DW-224a after 4-week oral administration was not notable at the toxic dose of 90 mg/kg/d. For example, after 4-week administration, the dose-normalized AUC(0-24 h) value at 90 mg/kg/d (7.69, 7.05 microg h/ml) was not significantly greater than that at 10 mg/kg/d. After 4-week oral administration, the dose-normalized C(max) and AUC(0-24 h) at 90 mg/kg/d were not significantly higher and greater, respectively, than those after a single oral administration.     

Subacute toxicities and toxicokinetics of DA-8159, a new phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor, after single and 4-week repeated oral administration in rats

The subacute toxicities (10 male and 10 female rats at each dose) and the toxicokinetics (5 male rats at each dose) of DA-8159, a new phosphodiesterase type V (PDE V) inhibitor, were evaluated after single (at day 1) and 4-week (at day 28) oral administration of the drug at doses of 0 (to serve as a control), 20, 80 and 320 mg/kg/day to rats. DA-8159 showed a decrease in body weight gain, clinical signs such as chromodacryohaemorrhoea, ptosis and decreased locomotor activity, an increase in WBC number, changes in parameters related to RBCs, an increase in organ weight of the liver, spleen and lung, and finally microscopic lesions such as cholangiofibrosis and inflammatory cell infiltration in the liver, alveolar macrophage accumulation, and inflammatory cell infiltration in the lung, an increase in bone marrow density and extrahaematopoiesis in the spleen. These changes were observed mainly at a dose of 80 mg/kg or above. While some changes were observed at a dose of 20 mg/kg, these changes were non-specific and transient since this were also observed in control rats. In addition, there was no dose-dependency in these changes. Based on these results, the NOAEL (No-Observed-Adverse-Effect-Level) for DA-8159 in rats was estimated to be 20 mg/kg/day, and the target organs were determined to be liver, bone marrow, spleen, lung and blood cells. After a 4-week oral administration, accumulation of DA-8159 was evident at a dose of 20 mg/kg/day, but was not considerable at toxic doses (80 and 320 mg/kg/day). After a single oral administration, the dose-normalized area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the last measured time, 24 h, in plasma (AUC(0-24 h)) was significantly different among the three doses (the AUC(0-24 h) based on 20 mg/kg/day was 2.33, 7.00 and 4.19 microg h/ml for 20, 80 and 320 mg/kg/day, respectively). Similar results were also obtained from DA-8164, a metabolite of DA-8159; the AUC(0-24 h) of DA-8164 after dose-normalized to 20 mg/kg/day of DA-8159 were 2.74, 5.00 and 1.68 microg h/ml, respectively.     

Pharmacokinetics of baicalein,baicalin and wogonin after oral administration of a standardized extract of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Scutellaria baicalensis</Emphasis>, PF-2405 in rats

The pharmacokinetics of active components such as baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A were evaluated after oral administration of a purified extract of Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI (PF-2405) containing the high contents of baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A to rats. Following oral administration of PF-2405 at 10, 20 and 40 mg/kg dose (equivalent to 4.5, 9.0 and 18 mg/kg baicalein), a major constituent baicalein and its active metabolite baicalin showed dose-linear pharmacokinetics as evidenced by unaltered dose-normalized AUC, dose-normalized Cmax, Ae(0-30h) and GI(30h) values. Following oral administration of PF-2405 at three doses (equivalent to 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6 mg/kg wogonin), dose-normalized Cmax and dose-normalized AUC were comparable between the 20 and 40 mg/kg PF2405 doses, but plasma concentrations of wogonin at 10 mg/kg of PF-2405 were not measurable as they were below limit of quantitation (LOQ; 18 pmol/mL). Following oral administration of PF-2405 at the three doses (equivalent to 1.5, 3.0 and 6.0 mg/kg oroxylin A), the concentrations of oroxylin A in plasma, urine and gastrointestine samples were below the assay LOQ (18 pmol/mL). Significant differences in AUCs, Ae(0-30h) and GI(30h) values for baicalein and baicalin were observed after oral administration of pure baicalein (18 mg/kg) and PF-2405 (40 mg/kg). The increases in AUCs of baicalein and baicalin after oral administration of PF-2405 may have been due to the significant decrease in GO(30h) values for baicalein.     

Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after intravenous and oral administration in rats: hepatic and intestinal first-pass effects

Pharmacokinetics of sildenafil after intravenous and oral administration at various doses and first-pass effect at 30 mg/kg were evaluated in rats. After intravenous administration (10, 30, and 50 mg/kg), the dose-normalized AUC values were proportional to intravenous doses studied. However, after oral administration (10, 30, and 100 mg/kg), the dose-normalized AUC values increased significantly with increasing doses, possibly due to saturation of metabolism of sildenafil in rat intestinal tract. After oral administration (30 mg/kg), approximately 0.626% was not absorbed and F was 14.6%. The AUC after intragastric administration was significantly smaller (71.4% decrease) than that after intraportal administration, however, the values were not significantly different between intragastric and intraduodenal administration. The above data suggested that intestinal first-pass effect of sildenafil was approximately 71% of oral dose in rats. The AUC values after intraportal administration were significantly smaller (49% decrease) than that after intravenous administration. This suggested that hepatic first-pass effect of sildenafil after absorption into the portal vein was approximately 49% of oral dose in rats (approximately 49% was equivalent to approximately 13.7% of oral dose). The low F of sildenafil at a dose of 30 mg/kg in rats could be mainly due to considerable intestinal first-pass effect.     

A review of the clinical pharmacokinetics and metabolism of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist indoramin

1. The alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist indoramin is rapidly and extensively absorbed after oral administration, but with only low to moderate bioavailability (8-24% median) from the tablet (Baratol). Although plasma protein binding is high (72-86%), the drug is widely distributed into tissues (with median Vz 6.3-7.7 l/kg after i.v. dosage). 2. Elimination of indoramin is rapid in most healthy volunteers, with median plasma clearances of 18-26 ml/min per kg, after i.v. dosage. Elimination occurs principally by metabolism, the major route being indole 6-hydroxylation, followed by sulphate conjugation of 6-hydroxyindoramin. The faecal route of excretion predominates (45-50% of dose), with a further 35-40% in the urine. 3. Extensive variation in single-dose oral pharmacokinetics of indoramin is due largely to the existence of a poor metabolizer phenotype which co-segregates with that of debrisoquine. 4. On repeated administration (37.5 mg twice daily) to healthy volunteers, plasma concentrations of indoramin accumulate 3-4-fold above those anticipated from single-dose kinetics. However, steady state is achieved within the first week of dosing. 5. The pharmacokinetics of indoramin are substantially altered in the elderly. The oral AUC for a 50 mg dose is increased approx. 5-fold and the t1/2 2.5-fold. 6. Cirrhotic liver disease enhances bioavailability and decreases clearance, approx. 2-fold in each case for single oral and i.v. doses of 50 mg and 0.15 mg/kg respectively. 7. After oral indoramin Cmax and AUC are both raised (58% and 25%, respectively, for a 50 mg dose) by co-ingested ethanol (0.5 g/kg). After i.v. indoramin, kinetics are unaffected by alcohol, but indoramin (0.175 mg/kg) slightly increases (26%) blood ethanol concentrations during the first hour after dosing. 8. The pharmacodynamics of indoramin appear to be related to the combined pharmacokinetics of the drug and its 6-hydroxylated metabolite, which contributes to the antihypertensive effect.     

Pharmacokinetics of lithospermic acid B isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza in rats

The absorption and pharmacokinetics of an active component of Salvia miltiorrhiza, lithospermic acid B (LSB), was investigated after intravenous and oral administration of doses of 10 or 50 mg LSB/kg to rats. Concentrations of LSB were determined by a validated liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS) assay method. After intravenous administration of 50 mg/kg, dose-normalized (10 mg/kg) area under the curve (AUC) (993 microg.min/ml) was significantly greater than that at 10 mg/kg (702 microg.min/ml). The slower clearance Cl-at 50 mg/kg could be due to saturable metabolism of LSB in rats, and this could be supported by significantly slower Cl(NR) and significantly greater 24-h urinary excretion of LSB at 50 mg/kg than at 10 mg/kg. Following oral administration of LSB, the extent of LSB recovered from the entire gastrointestinal tract at 24 h ranged from 41.2% to 23.3%. Although LSB was not detected (limit of quantitation 10 ng/ml) in plasma after oral dose of 10 mg/kg, the absolute oral bioavailability at 50 mg/kg was 5%. Since LSB was shown to have low permeability through the Caco-2 cell monolayers, the low bioavailability of LSB could be due to poor absorption and metabolism.     

Dose-independent pharmacokinetics of a new peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist,KR-62980, in Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice

The pharmacokinetics of a novel peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ agonist, KR-62980, were characterized in vitro with respect to liver metabolic stability, cell permeability, and plasma protein binding and in vivo using Sprague-Dawley rats and ICR mice. The metabolic half-life of 0.1–10 μM KR-62980 was 11.5–15.2 min in rat liver microsomes and 25.8–28.8 min in human liver microsomes. KR-62980 showed high permeability across MDCK cell monolayers, with apparent permeability coefficients of 20.4 × 10⁻⁶ to 30.8 × 10⁻⁶ cm/sec. The plasma protein binding rate of KR-62980 was 89.4%, and most was bound to serum albumin. After intravenous administration of KR-62980 (2 mg/kg), the systemic clearance was 2.50 L/h/kg, and the volume of distribution at steady-state was 9.16 L/kg. The bioavailability after oral administration was approximately 60.9%. The dose-normalized AUC values were 0.50 ± 0.09, 0.41 ± 0.20, and 0.62 ± 0.08 h·μg/mL after oral administration of 2, 5, and 10 mg/kg KR-62980, respectively, showing no dose-dependency. The in vivo pharmacokinetic parameters in ICR mice were also dose independent. These data suggest that KR-62980 is not significantly dose dependent in rats or mice, although it may disappear rapidly from the systemic circulation via metabolism in the liver.     

Pharmacokinetics of ethopropazine in the rat after oral and intravenous administration

The pharmacokinetics of the anticholinergic drug ethopropazine (ET) have been studied in the rat after intravenous (i.v.) and oral administration. After i.v. doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg ET HCl, mean +/- S.D. plasma AUC were 9836 +/- 2129 (n = 4 rats) and 13096 +/- 4186 ng h/mL (n = 5 rats), respectively. The t1/2 after 5 and 10 mg/kg i.v. doses were 17.9 +/- 3.3 and 20.9 +/- 6.0 h, respectively. The Cl and V(dss) after 5 mg/kg i.v. doses were 0.48 +/- 0.10 L/h/kg and 7.1 +/- 2.3 L/kg, respectively. Statistically significant differences were present between the 5 and 10 mg/kg dose levels in Cl and V(dss). Oral administration of 50 mg/kg ET HCl (n = 5 rats) yielded mean AUC of 2685 +/- 336 ng h/mL. Mean plasma C(max), t(max) and t1/2 after oral doses were 236 +/- 99 ng/mL, 2.2 +/- 1.4 h and 26.1 +/- 5.4 h, respectively. Less than 1% of the dose was recovered unchanged in urine and bile. Ethopropazine is extensively distributed in the rat, and has relatively slow Cl in relation to hepatic blood flow in the rat. The drug appears to be extensively metabolized in the rat, and nonlinearity is present between the 5 and the 10 mg/kg i.v. doses. The drug displayed poor bioavailability (< 5%) after oral administration.