Oxford University Press, Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 11(69), p. 1468-1476, 2017
DOI: 10.1111/jphp.12783
Full text: Unavailable
Abstract Objectives Analysis of the biopharmaceutical properties of eremantholide C, sesquiterpene lactone with proven pharmacological activity and low toxicity, is required to evaluate its potential to become a drug. Methods Preliminary analysis of the physicochemical characteristics of eremantholide C was performed in silico. Equilibrium solubility was evaluated using the shake-flask method, at 37.0 °C, 100 rpm during 72 h in biorelevant media. The permeability was analysed using parallel artificial membrane permeability assay, at 37.0 °C, 50 rpm for 5 h. The donor compartment was composed of an eremantholide C solution in intestinal fluid simulated without enzymes, while the acceptor compartment consisted of phosphate buffer. Key findings Physicochemical characteristics predicted in silico indicated that eremantholide C has a low solubility and high permeability. In-vitro data of eremantholide C showed low solubility, with values for the dose/solubility ratio (ml): 9448.82, 10 389.61 e 15 000.00 for buffers acetate (pH 4.5), intestinal fluid simulated without enzymes (pH 6.8) and phosphate (pH 7.4), respectively. Also, it showed high permeability, with effective permeability of 30.4 × 10−6 cm/s, a higher result compared with propranolol hydrochloride (9.23 × 10−6 cm/s). Conclusions The high permeability combined with its solubility, pharmacological activity and low toxicity demonstrate the importance of eremantholide C as a potential drug candidate.