Intestinal absorption characteristics of ketoprofen in rats

The present study aims to investigate the intestinal absorption characteristics of ketoprofen in rats. The pharmacokinetic profile of ketoprofen was evaluated following a single p.o. administration of ketoprofen (1 mg/kg) to rats in the absence and presence of benzoic acid or lactic acid (2 and 10 mg/kg), the substrates of monocarboxylic acid transporters. The pharmacokinetic profiles of ketoprofen (1 mg/kg) were significantly altered by the concurrent use of benzoic acid or lactic acid (10 mg/kg), compared with the control (given ketoprofen alone). The C max and AUC of ketoprofen in the presence of benzoic acid or lactic acid (10 mg/kg) were significantly ( p <0.05) lower than those from the control group, while there was no significant change in T max and the terminal plasma half‐life ( T 1/2 ) of ketoprofen. These results suggest that ketoprofen shares a common transport pathway with benzoic acid and lactic acid during the intestinal absorption in rats. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.