• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.269-276
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• 2009

Black pepper (family Piperaceae), is called king of spices because it is one of the oldest spice and alone accounts for about 35% of the world's total spice trade. The pepper is used in Ayurvedic medicine for the treatment of various ailments particularly neurological, broncho-pulmonary and gastrointestinal disorders. Pepper has also been reported to have various pharmacological actions but recently, it is highlighted as a bioavailability enhancer. This results in higher plasma concentration of drugs, nutrients, ions and other xenobiotics, rendering them more bioavailable for physiological as well as pharmacological actions in the body. Numerous scientific studies reported that piperine; a main bioactive compound of pepper, is responsible for its bioavailability enhancing property. It's a well known fact that pepper enhances bioavailability by inhibition of microsomal enzyme system but other mechanisms are also responsible to acts as a bioavailability enhancer. The brief overview of the mechanism of action of pepper as well as its applications as bioavailability enhancer is given in the present article.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.106-110
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• 2010

The pharmacokinetics and bioavailability of ambroxol, an expectoration improver and mucolytic agent, were studied to determine the feasibility of enhanced transdermal delivery of ambroxol from the ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) matrix system containing polyoxyethylene-2-oleyl ether as an enhancer in rats. The ambroxol-010 matrix system (15 mg/kg) was applied to abdominal skin of rats. Blood samples were collected via the femoral artery for 28 hrs and the plasma concentrations of ambroxol were determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using Lagran method computer program. The area under the curve (AUC) was significantly higher in the enhancer group ($1,678{\pm}1,413.3\;ng/ml{\cdot}hr$) than that in the control group $1,112{\pm}279\;ng/ml{\cdot}hr$), that is treated transdermally without enhancer, showing about 151% increased bioavailability (p<0.05). The average $C_{max}$ was increased in the enhancer group ($86.0{\pm}21.5\;ng$/ml) compared with the control group ($59.0{\pm}14.8\;ng$/ml). The absolute bioavailability was 13.9% in the transdermal control group, 21.1% in the transdermal enhancer group and 18.1% in the oral administration group compared with the IV group. The $T_{max}$, $K_a$, MRT and $t_{1/2}$ of ambroxol in transdermal enhancer group were increased significantly (p<0.01) compared to those of oral administration. As the ambroxol-EVA matrix containing polyoxyethylene-2-oleyl ether and tributyl citrate was administered to rats via the transdermal routes, the relative bioavailability increased about 1.51-fold compared to the control group, showing a relatively constant, sustained blood concentration. The results of this study show that ambroxol-EVA matrix could be developed as a transdermal delivery system providing sustained plasma concentration.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.210-214
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• 2008

The pharmacokinetic parameters and bioavailability of pranoprofen from the gel were measured to determine the enhancing effect of octanoic acid on the transdermal absorption of pranoprofen in rats. 8 mg/kg of pranoprofen was administered from gel with octanoic acid (the enhancer group) or that without octanoic acid (the control group) via the transdermal route, and the results were compared with those obtained from the intravenously (0.5 mg/kg, IV group) or orally administered group (4 mg/kg, oral group). The AUC of the control, the enhancer, the IV, and the oral groups were $20.2{\pm}5.1$, $50.7{\pm}12.7$, $19.9{\pm}2.5$, and $70.5{\pm}17.6\;ug/ml{\cdot}h$ respectively. The average $C_{max}$ of the control and the enhancer group were $0.93{\pm}0.23$ and $2.82{\pm}0.71\;ug/ml$, respectively, and the mean $T_{max}$ of the control and the enhancer group was 7.00 h. The relative bioavailability of the transdermally administered pranoprofen gel containing octanoic acid was approximately 2.50 times higher than the control group, showing a relatively constant, sustained blood concentration with minimal fluctuation. This suggests that it might be feasible to develop a pranoprofen gel preparation containing an enhancer for the transdermal administration, which is more convenient dosage form than the oral dosage forms.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.1587-1592
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• 2011

The aim of the present study was to improve the solubility and bioavailability of a poorly water-soluble drug in human body, using a solid dispersion technique (hot melt extrusion). The solid dispersion was prepared by cooling the hot melt of the drug in the carrier (Vitamin E TPGS and PVP). The dissolution rate of formulation 1 from a novel formulation prepared by solid dispersion technique was equal to release of formulation 6 (40% of eprosartan mesylate is in contrast to teveten$^{(R)}$) within 60 min (Table 1). The oral bioavailability of new eprosartan mesylate tablet having vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29 was tested on rats and dogs. Of the absorption enhancer and polymer tested, vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29, resulted in the greatest increases of AUC in animals (about 2.5-fold increase in rat and dog). When eprosartan mesylate was mixed with the absorption enhancer and polymer in a ratio of 2.94:2:1, vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29 improved eprosartan mesylate bioavailability significantly compared with the conventional immediate release (IR) tablet Teveten$^{(R)}$ (formulation 7). These results show that solid dispersion using vitamin E TPGS and PVP K29 is a promising approach for developing eprosartan mesylate drug products.

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.141-145
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• 1995

Omeprazole, a proton pump inhibitor, was given intravenously (iv), orally (po), intraperitoneally (ip), hepatoportalvenously (pv), and intrarectally (ir) to rats at a dose of 72mg/kg in order to investigate the bioavailability of the drug, The extent of bioavailabilities of omeprazole administered through pv, ip, po, and ir routes were 88.5, 79.4, 40,8, and 38.7%, respectively. Pharmacokinetic analysis in this study and literatures (Regardh et al., 1985 : Watanabe et al., 1994) implied significant dose-dependency in hepatic first-pass metabolism, clearance and distribution, and acidic degradation in gastric fluid. The high bioavailability from the pv administration (88.5%) means that only 11.5% of dose was extracted by the first-pass metabolism through the liver at this dose (72 mg/kg). The low bioavailability from the oral administration (40.8%) in spite of minor hepatic first-pass extraction indicates low transport of the drug from GI lumen to portal vein. From the literature (Pilbrant and Cederberg, 1985), acidic degradation in gastric fluid was considered to be the major cause of the low transport. Thus, enteric coating of oral preparations would enhance the oral bioavailability substantially. The bioavailability of the drug from the rectal route, in which acidic degradation and hepatic first-pass metabolism may not occur, was low (38.7%) but comparable to that from the oral route (40.8 %) indicating poor transport across the rectal membrane. In this case, addition of an appropriate absorption enhancer would improve the bioavailability. Rectal route seems to be an possible alternative to the conventional oral route for omeprazole administration.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.440-450
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• 1994

Due to the limited bioavailability of $[D-Ala^6]$LHRH from nonparenteral transmucosal sites of administration, enhancement of mucosal permeability by coadministration of several protease inhibitors and/or penetration enhancers were studied in rabbit mucosa. As a reliable bioassay method for $[D-Ala^6]$LHRH, ovulation-inducing effect were measured after vaginal administration in the rat. The permeation of $[D-Ala^6]$LHRH through the mucosal membrane of rabbit mounted on George-Grass diffusion cells were examined in the presence of polyoxyethylene 9-lauryl ether (POE), ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin$({\beta}-CyD)$ or ethylene diamine tetra acetate disodium salt(EDTA). The vaginal membrane showed higher permeability of $[D-Ala^6]$LHRH than the rectal and nasal membrane. POE and ${\beta}-CyD$ showed a small promoting effect on the membrane permeation of $[D-Ala^6]$LHRH, but EDTA showed significant enhancement. Ovaluation was enhanced by the coadministration of sodium laurate(0.5%), a protease inhibitor but was not enhanced by EDTA, a penetration enhancer. On the other hands, coadministration of sodium tauro 24,25 dihydrofusidate(1%) and EDTA(2%) enhanced the ovulation inducing-effect 2.8 times. These results suggest that the vaginal administration of $[D-Ala^6]$LHRH with STDHF or sodium laurate as a protease inhibitor, and EDTA as a penetration enhancer, may become an elective method for transmucosal delivery of $[D-Ala^6]$ LHRH.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.95-104
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• 1994

Inclusion complexes of ketoconazole(KT) with ${\alpha}^_$, ${\beta}^_$cyclodextrin(CD) and $dimethy1-{\beta}-cyclodextrin$ (CD) and $dimethy1-{\beta}-cyclodextrin(DM{\beta}CD)$ as nasal absorption enhancer were prepared in 1: 2 molar ratios by freeze-drying and solvent evaporation methods. In order to compare with the intrinsic absorptivity of KT in the jejunum(J) and the nasal cavity(N), the in situ simultaneous perfusion method was employed. The in situ recirculation study revealed that KT-CD inclusion complexes with the greater stability constant and the faster dissolution rate proportionally increased the absorption of KT in the J and N of rats. The rank order of apparent KT permeability$(P_{app}\;:\;cm/sec\;{\time}\;1O^{-5}{\pm}S.E.)$, corrected by surface area of absorption, was $5.10{\pm}0.3(N,\; KT-DM{\beta}CD)$ )> $4.13{\pm}0.4(N,\;KT-{\beta}-CD)$ )> $3.52{\pm}0.2(N,\;KT-{\alpha}-CD)$ )> $2.76{\pm}0.3(J,\; KT-DM{\beta}CD)$ )> $2.61{\pm}0.5(J,\;KT-{\beta}-CD)$ )> $2.42{\pm}0.4(J,\;KT-{\alpha}-CD)$ at pH 4.0. The in crease in permeability of $KT-DM{\beta}CD$ inclusion complex was 2.6 folds in the J and 4.5 folds in the N when the perfusing solution was changed from the buffer(pH 4.0) to saline. The absorption rate of $KT-DM{\beta}CD$ inclusion complex after nasal administration was more rapid than those of ketoconazole alone and $KT-DM{\beta}CD$ inclusion complex after oral administration to rats. In comparision with an oral administration of ketoconazole suspension in corn oil, the relative bioavailability was calculated 137.3% for the oral and 195.0% for nasal $KT-DM{\beta}CD$ inclusion complex in rats. The present results suggest that $KT-DM{\beta}CD$ inclusion complex may serve as a potential nasal absorption enhancer for the nasal delivery of ketoconazole.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.161-169
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to enhance the oral bioavailability (BA) of zanamivir (ZMR) by increasing its intestinal permeability using permeation enhancers (PE). Four different classes of PEs (Labrasol$^{(R)}$, sodium cholate, sodium caprate, hydroxypropyl ${\beta}$-cyclodextrin) were investigated for their ability to enhance the permeation of ZMR across Caco-2 cell monolayers. The flux and $P_{app}$ of ZMR in the presence of sodium caprate (SC) was significantly higher than other PEs in comparison to control, and was selected for further investigation. All concentrations of SC (10-200 mM) demonstrated enhanced flux of ZMR in comparison to control. The highest flux (13 folds higher than control) was achieved for the formulation with highest SC concentration (200 mM). The relative BA of ZMR formulation containing SC (PO-SC) in plasma at a dose of 10 mg/kg following oral administration in rats was 317.65% in comparison to control formulation (PO-C). Besides, the $AUC_{0-24\;h}$ of ZMR in the lungs following oral administration of PO-SC was $125.22{\pm}27.25$ ng hr $ml^{-1}$ with a $C_{max}$ of $156.00{\pm}24.00$ ng/ml reached at $0.50{\pm}0.00$ h. But, there was no ZMR detected in the lungs following administration of control formulation (PO-C). The findings of this study indicated that the oral formulation PO-SC containing ZMR and SC was able to enhance the BA of ZMR in plasma to an appropriate amount that would make ZMR available in lungs at a concentration higher (>10 ng/ml) than the $IC_{50}$ concentration of influenza virus (0.64-7.9 ng/ml) to exert its therapeutic effect.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2007

The chemical formula of indapamide is 3-(aminosulfonyl)-4-chloro-N-(2,3-dihydro-2-methyl-1H-indol-l-yl)-benzamide, Indapamide is an oral antipertensive diuretic agent indicated for the treatment of hypertensive and edema. Indapamide inhibits carbonic anhydrase enzyme. Transdermal drug delivery systems, as compared to their corresponding classical oral or injectable dosage form counterparts, offer many advantages. The most important advantages are improved systemic bioavailability of the pharmaceutical active ingredients (PAI), because the first-pass metabolism by the liver and digestive system are avoided; and the controlled, constant drug delivery profile (that is, controlled zero-order absorption). Also of importance is the reduced dose frequency compared to the conventional oral dosage forms (that is, once-a-day, twice-a-week or once-a-week). Other benefits include longer duration of therapeutic action from a single application, and reversible action. For example, patches can be removed to reverse any adverse effects that may be caused by overdosing. In order to evaluate the effects of vehicles and penetration enhancers on skin permeation of Indapamide, the skin permeation rates of Indapamide from vehicles of different composition were determined using Franz cells fitted with excised hairless skins. Solubility of Indapamide in various solvents was investigated to select a vehicle suitable for the percutaneous absorption of Indapamide, The solvents used were Tween80, Tween20, Labrasol, Lauroglycol90 (LG90) and Peceol. Lauroglycol90 increase the permeability of indapamide approximately 3.75-fold compared with the control. Tween80, Tween20, Labrasol, Lauroglycol90 (LG90) and Peceol showed flux of $0.06ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.4ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.21ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.72ug/cm^2/hr,\;0.29ug/cm^2/hr$, respectively.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.123-132
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• 2018

Ginseng has gained its popularity as an adaptogen since ancient days because of its triterpenoid saponins, known as ginsenosides. These triterpenoid saponins are unique and classified as protopanaxatriol and protopanaxadiol saponins based on their glycosylation patterns. They play many protective roles in humans and are under intense research as various groups continue to study their efficacy at the molecular level in various disorders. Ginsenosides Rb1 and Rg1 are the most abundant ginsenosides present in ginseng roots, and they confer the pharmacological properties of the plant, whereas ginsenoside Rg3 is abundantly present in Korean Red Ginseng preparation, which is highly known for its anticancer effects. These ginsenosides have a unique mode of action in modulating various signaling cascades and networks in different tissues. Their effect depends on the bioavailability and the physiological status of the cell. Mostly they amplify the response by stimulating phosphotidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase/protein kinase B pathway, caspase-3/caspase-9-mediated apoptotic pathway, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells signaling. Furthermore, they trigger receptors such as estrogen receptor, glucocorticoid receptor, and N-methyl-$\text\tiny{D}$-aspartate receptor. This review critically evaluates the signaling pathways attenuated by ginsenosides Rb1, Rg1, and Rg3 in various tissues with emphasis on cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative disorders.