Determination of saliva: total plasma chloroquine levels relationship by high performance liquid chromatography.

The use of saliva chloroquine concentrations measurement as a noninvasive technique in the evaluation of the pharmacokinetics of the drug was investigated. Chloroquine concentrations in saliva and plasma were measured in eight healthy volunteers after a single oral dose of two tablets of chloroquine sulfate. The saliva: total plasma concentrations (S/P) ratio was found to be approximately constant in the absorption (0.4 +/- 0.07), distribution (0.47 +/- 0.08), and elimination (0.46 +/- 0.05) phases. Thus, saliva sampling for chloroquine concentrations was found to be a useful noninvasive technique for the estimation of all the pharmacokinetic parameters of the drug and hence, for chloroquine pharmacokinetic studies.