Effect of Tamarindus indica. L on the bioavailability of ibuprofen in healthy human volunteers.

The influence of Tamarindus indica L fruit extract incorporated in a traditional meal on the bioavailability of Ibuprofen tablets 400 mg dose when given concurrently was studied in 6 healthy human volunteers. There was a statistically significant increase in the plasma levels of Ibuprofen and its metabolites hydroxy-ibuprofen and carboxy-ibuprofen respectively, when the meal containing Tamarindus indica fruit extract was administered with the ibuprofen tablets than when taken under fasting state or with the meal without the fruit extract. The C(max), AUC(0-6 hr) and Ka for ibuprofen increased from 38 +/- 0.70 microg/ml to 42 +/- 0.98 microg/ml (p > 0.05); and 28.03 +/- 2.40 microg/ml x hr to 56.51 +/- 0.16 microg/ml x hr (p < 0.05) and 1.048 +/- 0.02hr(-1) to 2.781 +/- 0.11 hr(-1) (p < 0.05) respectively. There was no change in the t(max) (120.00 +/- 0.43m) but there was a decrease in the k(el) from 0.63 +/- 0.20 hr(-1) to 0.46 +/- 0.11 hr(-1) (p<0.05). Similarly the C(max), AUC(0-6 h) and Ka for hydroxy-ibuprofen rose from 43 +/- 0.76 microg/ml to 45 +/- 0.16 microg/ml (p < 0.05); 39.04 +/- 2.30 microg/ml x hr to 59.49 +/- 2.39 microg/ml.hr in (p < 0.05) and 1.498 +/- 0.79hr(-1) to 3.442 +/- 0.23 hr(-1) (p < 0.05) respectively; while the C(max), AUC(0-6 h) and Ka for carboxy-ibuprofen rose from 48 +/- 0.7 microg/ml to 51 +/- 0.16 microg/ml (p < 0.05); 41.972 +/- 0.68 microg/ml x hr to 63.948 +/- 0.12 microg/ml x hr (p < 0.05) and 1.649 +/- 0.08 hr(-1) to 4.187 +/- 0.42 hr(-1) (p < 0.05) respectively. The study has indicated that Tamarindus indica L. fruit extract significantly increased the bioavailability of Ibuprofen.