On the pharmacokinetics of pengitoxin and its cardioactive derivative 16-acetyl-gitoxin

The pharmacokinetics of pengitoxin has been studied in 28 healthy subjects after intravenous and oral administration. The mean plasma concentration 24 h after 0.5 mg i.v. was 5.2 ng X ml-1. Following an open two-compartment model a mean elimination half-life of 60.5 h (24.9 to 103.5 h) and a mean volume of distribution (Vdarea) of 66.91 (31.8 to 109.61) were calculated. Absorption calculated by comparison of the AUC0-infinity-values amounted to 99%. Within 4 days, 16.7% (11.7 to 21.1%) or 27.8% (18.4 to 33.7%) (0.5 mg i.v. or 1.2 mg p.o.) was excreted in urine. After pengitoxin 0.5 mg i.v. total body clearance and renal clearance were 13.3 ml X min-1 (7.0 to 18.6 ml X min-1) and 3.0 ml X min-1 (1.9 to 3.9 ml X min-1) respectively. The elimination half-life of pengitoxin is longer than that of digoxin and distinctly shorter than that of digitoxin, whilst its distribution volume and clearance are closer to those of digitoxin than of digoxin.