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Pharmacokinetics of Matrine in Pigs After Gavage Administration of Matrine Alone and in Combination with Amoxicillin
by
,
Ruonan Li
1,†, 
Danna Zhou
2,†,
Huiyu Hu
1,
Fuhao Wang
1,
Xiaoling Lv
3,
Lei Sun
4,
Xueyan Sun
1,
Daojin Yu
1,* and
Bo Yang
1,* 1
University Key Laboratory for Integrated Chinese Traditional and Western Veterinary Medicine and Animal Healthcare in Fujian Province, Fujian Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, College of Animal Sciences, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
2
Key Laboratory of Prevention and Control Agents for Animal Bacteriosis (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Pathogenic Microbiology, Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary, Hubei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430064, China
3
Fujian Sunner Development Co., Ltd., Nanping 354100, China
4
National Reference Laboratory of Veterinary Drug Residues, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Animals 2025, 15(17), 2502; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15172502 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 19 July 2025
/
Revised: 12 August 2025
/
Accepted: 21 August 2025
/
Published: 25 August 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmacodynamics and Pharmacokinetics of Veterinary Drug Residues)
Simple Summary
Matrine (MT), a quinolizidine alkaloid isolated from Sophora spp., has been demonstrated by previous studies to be a potential resistance reversal agent. Its use in combination with β-Lactams such as amoxicillin (AMO) may effectively treat intestinal infections caused by AMO-resistant pathogenic bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of MT in pigs after gavage administration of MT alone and in combination with AMO. The results showed that MT exhibited rapid absorption and elimination in pigs. The PK profiles of both MT and AMO underwent significant alterations after their combined administration, providing evidence of the pharmacokinetic drug–drug interactions (PK-DDIs) between the two drugs. To the best of our knowledge, this study represents the first investigation into the PK profiles of MT in pigs. The results provide new insights into the disposition of MT in pigs and the PK-DDIs between MT and AMO, which will facilitate the evaluation of MT’s therapeutic efficacy in pigs.
Abstract
Matrine (MT) is a potential resistance reversal agent. However, little is known about its pharmacokinetics (PK) in pigs. This study aimed to investigate the PK of MT in pigs after gavage administration alone and in combination with amoxicillin (AMO). Twenty-four pigs were randomly assigned to three groups: A (MT, 50 mg/kg), B (AMO, 50 mg/kg), and C (MT + AMO, 50 mg/kg each). Blood samples were collected at predetermined time points post-administration and analyzed using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. PK parameters were calculated using a one-compartment model. The results showed that MT was absorbed and eliminated rapidly in pigs. The maximum concentration (Cmax), time to maximum concentration (Tmax), area under the curve from 0 to 36 h (AUC0–36 h), apparent clearance (Cl/F), elimination rate constant (ke), and absorption rate constant (ka) for group A were 1345.55 ± 302.94 μg/L, 2.03 ± 0.14 h, 3979.10 ± 1260.85 h·μg/L, 13.72 ± 4.30 L/h/kg, 1.07 ± 0.20 h−1, and 0.46 ± 0.09 h−1, respectively, versus 2071.70 ± 715.49 μg/L, 1.27 ± 0.36 h, 9113.80 ± 3152.85 h·μg/L, 6.17 ± 2.48 L/h/kg, 2.08 ± 0.55 h−1, and 0.44 ± 0.24 h−1 for group C. AMO significantly altered the PK profiles of MT.
Keywords:
pharmacokinetics; matrine; amoxicillin; pig; drug–drug interaction
