Effects of neferine on the pharmacokinetics of amiodarone in rats.

Jiadao Wan, Libo Zhao, Chuan Xu, Shaohui Zhang, Zhixin Zhang, Cheng Zeng, Mujun Chang, Junhua Xiao, Jialing Wang

Index: Biomed. Chromatogr. 25(8) , 858-66, (2011)

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Abstract

Amiodarone, an iodinated benzofuran derivative with predominantly class III anti-arrhythmic effects, is used to treat supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. The purpose of this study was to assess the potential of neferine, an effective anti-pulmonary fibrosis drug isolated from the embryo of Nelumbo nucifera Gaertner's seeds, to alter the pharmacokinetic profile of amiodarone. Experimental Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups. In groups 1 and 2, amiodarone was given to rats by intragastric and intravenous administration, respectively, while neferine was co-administratered by intragastric administration. Blood samples were collected from the orbital venous plexus at indicated time points and were analyzed for amiodarone concentration using RP-HPLC. The geometric mean ratio for C(max) and AUC(0-96) was calculated. There were no significant differences between the pharmacokinetics parameters of amiodarone administered intravenously or intragastrically and the control (without neferine) group (with ratios of 0.7-1.4 in all experimental groups), suggesting that neferine had no effect on amiodarone plasma pharmacokinetics. The dosage regimen of amiodarone does not need to be taken into consideration when combined with neferine.Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.