A study to determine the pharmacokinetics of gatifloxacin following a single oral dose.

Gatifloxacin is a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone that offers enhanced Gram-positive activity and anaerobic coverage to other fluoroquinolones. The pharmacokinetic parameters (Cmax, AUCo-t, tmax) of this drug have been evaluated to compare the single dose (400mg) bioavailability of gatifloxacin with the reference formulation. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled with U-V detector set at 290 nm has been used to determine plasma concentration of 12 human volunteers as per DCGI (Drug Controller General of India) guidelines. The method has been validated over a linear range of 0.25 to 8 microg/ml from plasma. The minimum quantifiable concentration has been set at 0.25 microg/ml (% CV < 10%). The pharmacokinetic parameters are: Cmax = 4.366 +/- 0.44 microg/ml at tmax = 1.83 +/- 0.44 hour, AUCO0-t = 25.26 +/- 2.91 microg hour/ml, AUCo-inf = 33.68 +/- 4.31 microg hour/ml, Kel = 0.094 +/- 0.024/hour and t1/2 = 8.0 +/- 1.92 hour.

Effect of piracetam, a nootropic agent, on experimental gastric ulcers in rat.

Piracetam, used clinically for cognitive disorders, was found to have significant anti-ulcerogenic activity against immobilization stress- and aspirin-induced gastric ulcers in rats. The anti-ulcer effect of piracetam was exerted by augmentation of mucosal resistance. This was indicated by the significant attenuation of the decrease in total carbohydrate: protein ratio induced by aspirin. It also reversed the marked increase in gastric juice protein and DNA induced by aspirin, indicating that piracetam attenuated the augmented mucosal cell exfoliation induced by the ulcerogen. The drug also increased gastric mucosal serotonin concentrations. Piracetam, thus appears to have a profile of activity associated with cytoprotective agents.