title: Co-administration of a commonly used Zimbabwean herbal treatment (African potato) does not alter the pharmacokinetics of lopinavir/ritonavir.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  African potato (Hypoxis obtusa) is commonly used in Sub-Saharan Africa as a complementary herbal remedy for HIV-infected patients. It is unknown whether or not co-administration of African potato alters the pharmacokinetics of protease inhibitor antiretrovirals. The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the African potato on the steady-state pharmacokinetics of ritonavir-boosted lopinavir (LPV/r).
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen adult volunteers were administered LPV/r 400/100 mg twice a day for 14 days, followed by concomitant administration with African potato given once daily for 7 days. Lopinavir plasma exposure as estimated by the area under the concentration-time curve over the 12-h dosing interval (AUC(0-12h), AUCτ) was determined on day 14 and again on day 21. Lopinavir in plasma was analyzed using a validated liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. Steady-state AUCτ and the maximum concentration following dose administration (C(max)) were determined using non-compartmental methods using WinNonlin Professional version 5.2.1. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 12.1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Co-administration of African potato was not associated with any change in lopinavir AUCτ, C(max), or C(trough).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  African potato when taken concomitantly with LPV/r is well-tolerated and not associated with clinically significant changes in lopinavir pharmacokinetics.
authors.affiliation: School of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Luther
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gwaza
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aweeka
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Greenblatt
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lizak
authors.forename: Liusheng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: B Joseph
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Guglielmo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000480:Alkynes / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005960:Glucosides / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D061466:Lopinavir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D019438:Ritonavir / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000480:Alkynes; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D005960:Glucosides; D010936:Plant Extracts; D061466:Lopinavir; C087941:hypoxoside; D019438:Ritonavir
keywords: Herbal medicines; Herb–drug interactions; Hypoxis obtusa; Pharmacokinetic interactions