Effect of cyclodextrins on the acid hydrolysis of digoxin

The effects of three cyclodextrins (alpha-, beta-, gamma-CyD) on the acid hydrolysis of digoxin were examined. From the high performance liquid chromatographic tracing of each of the four components (digoxin, bisdigitoxoside, monodigitoxoside, digoxigenin) in reaction mixtures, the individual rate constants (K1-K6) were determined by analogue computer simulation. The hydrolysis was suppressed by CyDs in the order of beta-great than gamma-greater than alpha-greater than-CyD, where beta-CyD inhibited the appearance rates of digoxigenin (k3, K5, and K6) significantly. In the dissolution study of digoxin tablets, the increase in dissolution rate and decrease in acid hydrolysis were attained by inclusion complexation. The data are presented suggesting that CyDs are useful for improving the oral bioavailability of digoxin.