Pharmacokinetics of artemisinin as an active ingredient of Dermicox (a herbal drug) following oral and intramuscular administrations in broiler chickens

Objectives: Artemisinin (ATM) is an active ingredient of Artemisia spp. and a promising anticoccidial agent in poultry. The present study was carried to explore the pharmacokinetics (PK) of ATM in a herbal drug derived from Artemisia sieberi, Dermicox, in broiler chickens.Materials and Methods: 64 healthy broiler chickens, 21 days old, were randomly divided into 4 groups. Each bird in the first group received Dermicox as a single oral dose at 2 mg ATM per kg and in the second group received the same dose intravenously (IV). In third group they received Dermicox at 5 mg ATM per kg, orally and in the fourth group they received the latter dose IV. Blood samples were taken before drug administration and 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 and 24 hours post dosing. ATM concentrations in serum samples were measured by an HPLC method with UV detection. PK parameters including Cmax, Tmax, absorption rate constant (Ka), elimination rate constant (Ke), half-life (t1/2), volume of distribution at steady state (Vss), AUC0-24 and AUMC0-24 as well as MRT and MAT were calculated through non-compartmental analysis.Results and Conclusion: Mean Cmax values of ATM following oral administration at doses of 2 and 5 mg/kg were 3.69 and 7.12 µg/ml, respectively at 4 hours post dosing. In the case of IV administration the elimination t1/2 of the drug at 2 and 5 mg/kg were 4.2 and 5.5 hours, respectively. Regarding Vss values, they were between 0.5-1.3 L/kg. The mean values for bioavailability of ATM of oral Dermiscox in groups 1 and 3, were 73 and 74%, respectively. Given the relatively high bioavailability of ATM and low Vss in this study, existence of a species difference in the extent of drug and distribution after a single oral dose is suggested.