[Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of artesunate in cows]

The pharmacokinetics of artesunate (AS) was studied in 3 cows, single dose of AS (5 mg/kg) were administered intravenously and the drug concentrations were determined by means of a TLC method developed in our laboratory. The plasma drug concentration-time course of AS, after the treatment with a pharmacokinetic microcomputer program MCPKP edited by Wen-Jiang Xia, was found to be best fitted to a two compartment open model and its pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows, T1/2 alpha = 2.43 min, T1/2 beta = 31.45 min, V1 = 0.124 L/kg, VB = 0.937 L/kg, ClB = 0.0215 L/kg. min, AUC = 236 mg/L.min. Dihydroartemisinine (DHA), the main active metabolite of AS in the bodies, was detected simultaneously. Peak plasma concentration of 3.5 micrograms/ml of DHA was reached at about 3 minutes after dosing and the AUC was 82 mg/L.min.