Absorption, Distribution, Excretion, and Pharmacokinetics of C14-Pyronaridine Tetraphosphate in Male and Female Sprague-Dawley Rats

• Published in: BioMed research international 2010-01, Vol.2010 (2010), p.1-9
• Main Authors: Park, Sang Hyun, Pradeep, Kannampalli
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biomedical research; Blood; Drug resistance; Drug therapy; Malaria; Mortality; Parasites; Pharmaceutical industry
• ISSN: 1110-7243; 2314-6133; 1110-7251; 2314-6141
• DOI: 10.1155/2010/590707

The main objective of this investigation was to determine the absorption, distribution, excretion, and pharmacokinetics of the antimalarial drug pyronaridine tetraphosphate (PNDP) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Following oral administration of a single dose (10 mg/Kg) of C14-PNDP, it was observed that the drug was readily absorbed from the small intestine within 1 hour following oral administration and was widely distributed in most of the tissues investigated as determined from the observed radioactivity in the tissues. The peak value of the drug in the blood was reached at around 8 hours postadministration, and radioactivity was detected in most of the tissues from 4 hours onwards. C14-PNDP showed a poor permeability across the blood-brain barrier, and the absorption, distribution, and excretion of C14-PNDP were found to be gender-independent as both male and female rats showed a similar pattern of radioactivity. Excretion of the drug was predominantly through the urine with a peak excretion post 24 hours of administration. A small amount of the drug was also excreted in the feces and also in the breath. It was found that the Cmax, AUC (0-inf), and Tmax values were similar to those observed in the Phase II clinical trials of pyronaridine/artesunate (Pyramax) conducted in Uganda.