Effects of neferine on the pharmacokinetics of amiodarone in rats

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 (C) 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.