Comparative bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of noscapine hydrogen embonate and noscapine hydrochloride.

The relative bioavailability and pharmacokinetics of two orally administered aqueous suspensions of noscapine hydrogen embonate were compared with those of noscapine hydrochloride solution. Noscapine hydrochloride showed faster absorption and gave a higher peak concentration than the embonate. The average bioavailability of the embonates was 71% of that of the noscapine solution (p less than 0.05). No significant difference was observed when the embonate was administered with water, polyvidone and flavouring agents.