In vitro availability of ofloxacin in presence of metals essential to human body.

The significance of interaction between ofloxacin and metals ions was evaluated in this study. The absorption of ofloxacin can be negatively affected by concomitant administration of agents containing metal cations. Current studies examine alterations of ofloxacin availability by metal cations and is limited to conventional metal-containing agents such as antacids and mineral supplements. The in vitro availability of ofloxacin was studied in presence of metal ions as magnesium, calcium, chromium, manganese, ferric, ferrous, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc and cadmium in their salt form in simulated gastric juice, buffers of pH 7.4 and 9 at 37 degrees C by using a modified B.P 2002 dissolution apparatus. UV/VIS (Shimadzu 1601) spectrophotometer was used to analyze the drug by measuring absorbance at 294 nm in simulated gastric juice and at 288 nm in pH 7.4 and 9. The result showed that availability of ofloxacin slightly changed in presence of all metals in all these dissolution mediums.