PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY OF ANDROGRAPHIS PANICULATA ETHANOLIC EXTRACT TABLET

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. F) Nees, commonly known as the “king of bitters,” is an herbaceous plant belonging to the Acanthaceae and is found throughout tropical and subtropical Asia, Southeast Asia, and India. Andrographolide, a bitter diterpenoid, is the major active principle present in the plant. Authors have already worked on the phytochemical investigation, analgesic and antipyretic activities of ethanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata. Present study aimed to pharmacokinetic study of an ethanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata tablet in rat. Solid dispersion tablets of Andrographis paniculata extract equivalent to 50 mg/Kg was prepared and given to rats and various pharmacokinetic parameters such as maximum concentration of andrographolide in plasma (C_max), elimination rate constant (K), Elimination half-life (t_1/2) Area under the plasma andrographolide concentration- time curve up to measurable concentration (AUC_{(0- t)}), The area under the curve zero to infinity (AUC_0-∞), mean residence time (MRT) and relative bioavailability (F_rel) were determined and also compared with pure andrographolide. Results showed that there significant increase in various pharmacokinetic parameters of solid dispersion tablet as compared with pure andrographolide.