Preclinical Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Pioglitazone Floating Tablets Formulated Employing Olibanum Gum

The objective of the study is to make a pharmacokinetic evaluation of pioglitazone floating tablets formulated employing olibanum gum in comparison to pioglitazone pure drug in rabbits. The two products were tested in a crossover RBD in healthy rabbits of either sex (n = 6). The plasma concentrations of pioglitazone were determined by a validated HPLC method. From the time versus plasma concentration data various pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, Tmax, t1/2, AUC, Ka, and MRT) were calculated. Pioglitazone from the floating tablets formulated was absorbed slowly over longer periods of time in vivo resulting in the maintenance of plasma concentrations within a narrow range over a longer period of time. The absorption rate constant (Ka) was decreased from 1.462 h-1 for pioglitazone pure drug to 0.133 h-1 with the floating tablets. MRT was increased from 9.82 h for pioglitazone pure drug to 13.65 h with the floating tablets. There was no increase in the bioavailability of pioglitazone from the floating tablets developed.