Geneva cocktail for cytochrome p450 and P-glycoprotein activity assessment using dried blood spots.

The suitability of the capillary dried blood spot (DBS) sampling method was assessed for simultaneous phenotyping of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and P-glycoprotein (P-gp) using a cocktail approach. Ten volunteers received an oral cocktail capsule containing low doses of the probes bupropion (CYP2B6), flurbiprofen (CYP2C9), omeprazole (CYP2C19), dextromethorphan (CYP2D6), midazolam (CYP3A), and fexofenadine (P-gp) with coffee/Coke (CYP1A2) on four occasions. They received the cocktail alone (session 1), and with the CYP inhibitors fluvoxamine and voriconazole (session 2) and quinidine (session 3). In session 4, subjects received the cocktail after a 7-day pretreatment with the inducer rifampicin. The concentrations of probes/metabolites were determined in DBS and plasma using a single liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method. The pharmacokinetic profiles of the drugs were comparable in DBS and plasma. Important modulation of CYP and P-gp activities was observed in the presence of inhibitors and the inducer. Minimally invasive one- and three-point (at 2, 3, and 6 h) DBS-sampling methods were found to reliably reflect CYP and P-gp activities at each session.

Comparative evaluation of Butea frondosa and flurbiprofen for ocular anti-inflammatory activity in rabbits.

The roots and leaves of the plant Butea frondosa were evaluated for ocular anti-inflammatory activity on the subacute model of ocular inflammation in rabbits. The arkas (liquid preparations obtained by distillation of certain liquids or drugs soaked in water, using the Arka-Yantra or any other convenient modern distillation apparatus) were prepared using the roots and leaves of the plant. The arkas were formulated as gels using Pluronic F-127 (PF-127) 30% w/w as the polymer. The anti-inflammatory activity of the preparations were assessed by determining their effects on elevated intraocular pressure consequent to breakdown of blood/aqueous humour barrier. A commercial eyedrop of flurbiprofen 0.03% w/w was used to compare the ocular anti-inflammatory activity of the arkas of the plant. A marketed root arka was included in the study for comparison. The anti-inflammatory activity of the arkas formulated as gels were compared with flurbiprofen gel prepared using the same polymer. The changes in intraocular pressure were monitored at various time intervals after a single dose administration of the aqueous as well as gel formulations. In multiple dose studies the aqueous preparations were administered three times a day, while the gels were administered once a day up to day 30 and the intraocular pressure was monitored on different days post-administration. The findings reveal statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) between the arkas of the plant and the commercial eyedrop of flurbiprofen. The arkas of the plant proved to be better than the eyedrop of flurbiprofen, while with respect to gels, the intraocular pressure monitored at various time intervals revealed no statistically significant difference (P > 0.05) between the gel formulations. However, the changes in intraocular pressure monitored on different days post-administration until day 30, demonstrated that the gel produced from B. frondosa leaves arka was superior to all the other gels with respect to the extent of reduction of elevated intraocular pressure elicited experimentally.

Effects of flurbiprofen on myocardial cell damage in acute myocardial ischemia.

Fluribiprofen, a non steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, was studied in anesthetized cats subjected to acute myocardial ischemia. Flurbiprofen was given at 0.25, 1 or 4 mg/kg bolus intravenously at 0.5 hours and again at 2.5 hours. Assessment of ischemic myocardial preservation was appraised by measurement of S-T segment elevation, and plasma and cardiac tissue creatine phosphokinase (CK) specific activity. Plasma thromboxane B2 (TB2) concentrations measured by specific radioimmunoassay for TB2, and arachidonic-induced platelet aggregation were also assessed. All three doses of flurbiprofen prevented both the increase to plasma TB2 concentrations occuring in MI (p less than 0.05) at 2, 3 and 4 hours) and platelet aggregation induced by arachidonic acid. However, flurbiprofen at either 0.25 or 4 mg/kg failed to prevent the increase in the S-T segment, the increase in plasma CK activity and failed to maintain myocardial CK values in the ischemic region. At 1 mg/kg, flurbiprofen returned S-T segment to normal values and preserved myocardial CK activities but only slightly prevented the increase in plasma CK activity. These data suggest that the low and high dose of flurbiprofen showed no protection during acute myocardial ischemia, while the intermediate dose was effective. The reason for the narrow range of myocardial preservation is not clear.

Some biological properties of flurbiprofen, an anti-inflammatory, analgesic and antipyretic agent.

2-(2-Fluoro-4-biphenyl)propionic acid (flurbiprofen) possesses peripheral analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic properties. It does not possess glucocorticoid or adrenocortical-stimulating properties. It is a highly potent agent which in acute pharmacological test systems produced a significant pharmacological effect in single oral doses varying from 0.04 to 0.47 mg/kg. The peak plasma concentrations attained after these doses were generally of the order of 1 to 3 mug/ml. Doses of 0.33 mg/kg/day, which gave peak plasma concentrations of 0.6 mug/ml, produced a significant inhibition of rat adjuvant arthritis, both developing and established. The very shallow dose-response curves for flurbiprofen compared with acetylsalicylic acid, especially in the mouse and the rat test systems, are not due to an unreliable or abnormal absorption, which suggests that in these species the mode of action of flurbiprofen is not identical with that of acetylsalicylic acid.