Evidence of absorption rate dependency of ibuprofen inversion in the rat

Ibuprofen (IB) is a chiral 2‐arylpropionic acid derivative used as a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug (NSAID). It undergoes substantial R to S chiral inversion in humans and rats. In addition to systemic inversion, presystemic chiral inversion has been suggested for IB in humans but only after administration of formulations with slow absorption rates. In search for a suitable animal model, the absorption rate dependency of the extent of inversion was examined in male Sprague–Dawley rats given 20 mg/kg of racemic IB in aqueous solution ( T max , 0.6 h), suspension ( T max , 1 h) or as sustained release granules ( T max , 2.3 h). In addition, (R)‐IB (5 mg/liter) was incubated in the presence of everted rat gut segments in an organ bath at 37°. After sustained release granules, the S:R AUC ratios (7.3 ± 1.5) were significantly higher than suspension (3.6 ± 1.1) and solution (3.5 ± 0.2). Accordingly, AUC S and AUC R , as percent of the total AUC (S + R), significantly increased and decreased, respectively, after administration of the sustained released granules as compared with the solution and suspension. A significant positive linear correlation was found between the S:R AUC ratios and the corresponding T max for (R)‐IB ( r = 0.82). In vitro, (R)‐IB was inverted by everted jejunum (12.2 ± 1.6%), ileum (14.2 ± 2.0%), and colon (4.4 ± 0.6%) segments. IB was also glucuronidated in the presence of the intestinal segments. Therefore, similar to earlier observations made in humans, in the rat, the S:R AUC ratio was positively and significantly correlated with the absorption rate from the dosage form. Rat small intestine was capable of inverting and conjugating (R)‐IB. Hence, rat is a suitable model for studying the chiral inversion of IB. © 1994 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.