The metabolism of albendazole in the isolated perfused intestine of rats
Lawrenz, A.; Eglit, S.; Kroker, R.
Deutsche Tierärztliche Wochenschrift 99(10): 416-418
1992
ISSN/ISBN: 0341-6593 PMID: 1425320 Document Number: 397176
Pharmacokinetic studies on Albendazole after peroral administration demonstrate a rapid and complete biotransformation. The major metabolites Albendazole sulphoxide and -sulphone were detected in the plasma; the parent compound was only found sporadically at very low levels. These results indicate removal by the liver and/or the gut at first pass. After evidence is found that the liver has the capacity to sulphoxidize and to sulphonize Albendazole, biotransformation of the gut was examined using an isolated perfused rat gut model. A high-performance liquid chromatography method was used to simultaneously determinate Albendazole, -sulphoxide and -sulphone. Albendazole was biotransformed partly to Albendazole sulphoxide by the gut, whereby the metabolite but not the parent compound was absorbed. It is concluded, that the gut has the capacity to biotransform Albendazole. However, biotransformation is limited to the first step, the sulphoxidation.