RESUMO
Lomefloxacin hydrochloride is a third generation fluoroquinolone antibacterial agent having a broad spectrum of action against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. The in vitro availability studies of lomefloxacin were carried out in presence of essential and trace elements such as magnesium, calcium, chromium, ferric, ferrous, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and cadmium in simulated gastric juice, simulated intestinal juice and blood pH at 37oC using B.P 2003 dissolution test apparatus. It was observed that availability of lomefloxacin was depressed in presence of nickel and zinc in simulated gastric juice and in presence of Fe2+ in simulated intestinal juice, while many metals like magnesium, chromium, iron [both Fe2+ and Fe3+], cobalt, nickel, copper and cadmium depressed the availability of lomefloxacin at blood pH. Furthermore, the availability of lomefloxacin alone in simulated intestinal juice and at blood pH was reduced as compared to simulated gastric juice. The antibacterial activities of lomefloxacin in presence of these metal ions were observed and compared to control against six different microorganisms i.e., Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus fragilis and Streptococcus pneumonia by disc diffusion method to measure the inhibitory zone and MIC were determined by tube dilution method