PHARMACOKINETICS OF TABLET HUPERZINE-A IN 6 VOLUNTEERS

AIM: To study pharmacokinetics of tablet huperzine A (Hup-A) in Chines e volunteers to help establishing its drug administration schedule. ME THODS: For 6 volunteers after a single oral dose of 0.99 mg, drug conc entrations in plasma were assayed by reverse phase high pressure liqui d chromatography (HPLC) at 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25, 1.5, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 h. The pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated with a 3P87 progr am by computer. RESULTS: The time course of plasma concentrations conf ormed to a one-compartment open model with a first order absorption. T he pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: T 1/2k(a) = 12.6 min, T 1/2k(e) = 288.5 min, T-max = 79.6 min, C-max = 8.4 mu g L(-1), AUC = 4.1 mg L(-1) min. CONCLUSION: Hup-A was absorbed rapidly, distributed widely in the body, and eliminated at a moderate rare.