Preclinical Study of the Pharmacokinetics of a New Intravenous Dosage Form of Ubiquinol

Abstract

The pharmacokinetics of ubiquinol in a new dosage form for intravenous injection were studied for the first time. Biexponential kinetic curves were found using HPLC with electrochemical detection in 48-h experiments in rats. The main pharmacokinetic parameters, i.e., area under the kinetic curves, elimination half-life, and total clearance, were calculated. The pharmacokinetics were nonlinear in the studied dose range (5, 10, and 20 mg/kg) with a higher dose corresponding to lower clearance. Multiple administrations increased the clearance, which implied extensive uptake of the drug into organ tissues that was required to manifest the protective effects of ubiquinol. Gradual oxidation of ubiquinol in blood plasma indicated that it was involved in endogenous redox processes.