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The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cilostazol on the bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of nifedipine and its main metabolite, dehydronifedipine, in rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of nifedipine and dehydronifedipine were determined following oral and intravenous administration of nifedipine (1.5 and 6.0 mg ・ kg-1) in rats. Cilostazol inhibited CYP3A4 enzyme activity at a 50% inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 4.1 μM. The areas under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC 0-∞) and the peak concentration (C max) of nifedipine were significantly increased, respectively, in the presence of cilostazol compared to that in the control. The total body clearance (CL/F) was significantly decreased by cilostazol. Consequently, the absolute bioavailability (AB) of nifedipine with cilostazol was significantly higher than that in the control. The metabolite to parent AUC ratio (MR) in the presence of cilostazol was significantly decreased compared to that in the control. The AUC 0-∞ of intravenous nifedipine was significantly increased with cilostazol compared to that in the control. The increased bioavailability of nifedipine in rats can be mainly due to the inhibition of CYP3A4-mediated metabolism in the small intestine and/or liver by cilostazol. In addition, the reduction of CL/F of nifedipine by cilostazol may also be a factor.

− This study was designed to investigate the effects of silibinin on the pharmacokinetics of carvedilol afteroral administration of carvedilol in rats. Carvedilol was administered orally (3 mg/kg) with oral silibinin (0.3, 1.5 or 6 mg/kg) and intravenously (1 mg/kg) to rats. The effects of silibinin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9and CYP2D6 activity were also evaluated. Silibinin inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP2D6 enzyme activity with 50% inhibitionconcentration (IC 50 ) of 5.2 µ M and 85.4 µ M, respectively. In addition, silibinin significantly enhanced the cellular accu-mulation of rhodamine-123 in MCF-7/ADR cells overexpressing P-gp. Compared with the control group, the area under theplasma concentration–time curve was significantly increased by 36.3–57.1%, and the peak concentration was significantlyincreased by 51.1–88.5% in the presence of silibinin after oral administration of carvedilol. Consequently, the relative bio-availability of carvedilol was increased by 1.13- to 1.57-fold and the absolute bioavailability was significantly increased by38.6–59.7%. The time to reach peak concentration and the terminal half-life were not significant. The enhanced oral bio-availability of carvedilol may result from inhibition of CYP2C9-mediated metabolism and P-gp-mediated efflux ofcarvedilol rather than inhibition of CYP2D6-mediated metabolism in the intestine and/or in the liver by silibinin. Key words

This study was designed to investigate the effects of glipizide on the pharmacokinetics of carvedilol after oral or intravenous administration of carvedilol in rats. Clinically carvedilol and glipizide can be prescribed for treatment of cardiovascular diseases as the complications of diabetes, and then, Carvedilol and glipizide are all substrates of CYP2C9 enzymes. Carvedilol was administered orally or intravenously without or with oral administration of glipizide to rats. The effects of glipizide on cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 activity and P-gp activity were also evaluated. Glipizide inhibited CYP2C9 activity in a concentration-dependent manner with 50% inhibition concentration (IC50) of 18 μM. Compared with the control group, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) was significantly increased by 33.0%, and the peak concentration (Cmax) was significantly increased by 50.0% in the presence of glipizide after oral administration of carvedilol. Consequently, the relative bioavailability (R.B.) of carvedilol was increased by 1.13- to 1.33-fold and the absolute bioavailability (A.B.) of carvedilol in the presence of glipizide was increased by 36.8%. After intravenous administration, compared to the control, glipizide could not significantly change the pharmacokinetic parameters of carvedilol. Therefore, the enhanced oral bioavailability of carvedilol may mainly result from inhibition of CYP2C9- mediated metabolism rather than both P-gp-mediated efflux in the intestinal or in the liver and renal elimination of carvedilol by glipizide.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of oral curcumin on the pharmacokinetics of intravenous and oral etoposide in rats. Intravenous (6 mg/kg) or oral (2 mg/kg) etoposide was administered to rats in the absence and the presence of oral curcumin (0.4, 2 or 8 mg/kg). The effects of curcumin on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and CYP3A4 activity was also evaluated. Curcumin inhibited CYP3A4 enzyme activity with a 50% inhibition concentration (IC(50) ) of 2.7 µM. In addition, curcumin (10 µm) significantly enhanced the cellular accumulation of rhodamine-123 in MCF-7/ADR cells overexpressing P-gp. Compared with the control group (given etoposide alone), curcumin (2 or 8 mg/kg) increased significantly the oral bioavailability (AUC and C(max) ) of etoposide. Consequently, the extent of absolute oral bioavailability (F) of etoposide with curcumin was significantly enhanced compared with that in the control group. In contrast, curcumin did not affect the pharmacokinetics of etoposide after intravenous administration. Therefore, the enhanced oral bioavailability of etoposide in the presence of curcumin might be due mainly to inhibition of the P-gp efflux pump in the small intestine and possibly by reduced first-pass metabolism of etoposide in the small intestine by inhibition of CYP3A activity in rats. The combined use of curcumin may be helpful to improve the F of etoposide in chemotherapeutic applications.

【This study investigated the effect of clarithromycin on the pharmacokinetics of ambroxol in rats. The pharmacokinetic parameters of ambroxol in rats were determined after the oral administration of ambroxol (12 mg/kg) in the presence or absence of clarithromycin (5 or 10 mg/kg). Compared with the control (given ambroxol alone), coadministration of clarithromycin significantly (p $(C_{max})$ and absorption rate constant $(K_a)$ of ambroxol. Clarithromycin increased the AUC of ambroxol in a dose dependent manner within the dose range of 5 to 10 mg/kg. The absolute bioavailability (AB%) of ambroxol in the presence of clarithromycin was significantly higher than that of the control (p $(T_{max})$ and terminal half-life $(T_{1/2})$ of ambroxol in the presence of clarithromycin. Coadministration of clarithromycin enhanced the bioavailability of ambroxol, which may be due to the inhibition of intestinal and hepatic metabolism of ambroxol by CYP 3A4. Further studies for the potential drug interaction are necessary since ambroxol is often administrated concomitantly with clarithromycin in humans.】

Background This study aimed to investigate the effects of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on the pharmacokinetics of nifedipine in rats. Methods We determined the pharmacokinetic parameters of nifedipine and dehydronifedipine in rats after oral and intravenous administration of nifedipine without and with HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors. We evaluated the effect of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors on the activity of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP)3A4. Results Atorvastatin, fluvastatin, pravastatin and simvastatin inhibited CYP3A4 activities; inhibitory concentration (IC 50 ) values were 47.0, 5.2, 15.0 and 3.3 μM, respectively. Simvastatin and fluvastatin increased the cellular uptake of rhodamine-123. The area under the plasma concentration–time curve (AUC 0–∞ ) and the peak plasma concentration ( C max ) of oral nifedipine were significantly increased by fluvastatin and simvastatin, respectively, compared to control group. The total body clearance (CL/F) of nifedipine after oral administration with fluvastatin and simvastatin were significantly decreased compared to those of control. The metabolite–parent AUC ratio (MR) of nifedipine with fluvastatin and simvastatin were significantly decreased, which suggested that fluvastatin and simvastatin inhibited metabolism of nifedipine, respectively. The AUC 0–∞ of intravenouse nifedipine with fluvastatin and simvastatin was significantly higher than that of the control group. Conclusion The increased bioavailability of nifedipine may be mainly due to inhibition of both P-gp in the small intestine and CYP3A subfamily-mediated metabolism of nifedipine in the small intestine and/or in the liver and to the reduction of the CL/F of nifedipine by fluvastatin and simvastatin.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of fluvastatin on the pharmacokinetics of repaglinide in rats. The effect of fluvastatin on P-glycoprotein and CYP3A4 activity was evaluated. The pharmacokinetic parameters and blood glucose concentrations were also determined after oral and intravenous administration of repaglinide to rats in the presence and absence of fluvastatin. Fluvastatin inhibited CYP3A4 activity in a concentration-dependent manner with a 50% inhibition concentration(IC50) of 4.1 µM and P-gp activity. Compared to the oral control group, fluvastatin significantly increased the AUC and the peak plasma level of repaglinide by 45.9% and 22.7%, respectively. Fluvastatin significantly decreased the total body clearance (TBC) of repaglinide compared to the control. Fluvastatin also significantly increased the absolute bioavailability (BA) of repaglinide by 46.1% compared to the control group. Moreover, the relative BA of repaglinide was 1.14- to 1.46-fold greater than that of the control. Compared to the i.v. control, fluvastatin significantly increased the AUC0-∞ of i.v. administered repaglinide. The blood glucose concentrations showed significant differences compared to the oral controls. Fluvastatin enhanced the oral BA of repaglinide, which may be mainly attributable to the inhibition of the CYP3A4-mediated metabolism of repaglinide in the small intestine and/or liver, to the inhibition of the P-gp efflux transporter in the small intestine and/or to the reduction of TBC of repaglinide by fluvastatin. The study has raised the awareness of potential interactions during concomitant use of repaglinide with fluvastatin. Therefore, the concurrent use of repaglinide and fluvastatin may require close monitoring for potential drug interactions.

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of pravastatin on the pharmacokinetics of nimodipine in rats. Materials and Methods: The effect of pravastatin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A4 activity was evaluated. Nimodipine was administered to rats intravenously (3 mg/kg) and orally (12 mg/kg) with pravastatin (0.3 and 1 mg/kg). Results: Pravastatin inhibited CYP3A4 enzyme activity in a concentration-dependent manner with a 50% inhibition concentration (IC 50 ) of 14 ΅M. Compared with the oral control group, the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC 0-∞ ) of nimodipine was increased significantly. Consequently, the absolute bioavailability (AB) of nimodipine with pravastatin (1 mg/kg) was 31.1%, which was significantly enhanced compared with the oral control group. Moreover, the relative bioavailability (RB) of nimodipine was 1.12- to 1.31-fold greater than that of the control group. Conclusions: The enhanced oral bioavailability of nimodipine might be mainly due to inhibition of the CYP3A-mediated metabolism of nimodipine in the small intestine and/or in the liver and due to reduction of the total body clearance rather than both to inhibition of the P-gp efflux transporter in the small intestine and reduction of renal elimination of nimodipine by pravastatin. The increase in the oral bioavailability of nimodipine with pravastatin should be taken into consideration of potential drug interactions between nimodipine and pravastatin.