Saliva-catalyzed hydrolysis of a ketobemidone ester prodrug: Factors influencing human salivary esterase activity

L.B. Hansen, Lona Louring Christrup, H. Bundgaard

    7 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Saliva enzyme-catalysed hydrolysis of ester prodrugs or drugs containing sensitive ester groups may be a limiting factor for the buccal absorption of such compounds. Using the isopropyl carbonate ester of ketobemidone as a model substance of a hydrolysis-sensitive prodrug the esterase activity of human saliva has been characterized as a function of various factors. The esterase activity was found to decrease rapidly upon storage of the saliva at 37°C. The activity increased with increasing pH in the range 4.5-7.4 and with increasing salivation flow rate up to a rate of 0.9 ml min. Under resting conditions, the flow rate was about 0.2 ml min which implied a greatly decreased esterase activity. The activity was highest after fasting and decreased after intake of a meal. The intraindividual variation in the saliva esterase activity was small whereas a larger interindividual variation was found.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalInternational Journal of Pharmaceutics
    Volume88
    Issue number1-3
    Pages (from-to)221-227
    Number of pages7
    ISSN0378-5173
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 1992

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Saliva-catalyzed hydrolysis of a ketobemidone ester prodrug: Factors influencing human salivary esterase activity'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this