Effects ofNigella sativaandLepidium sativumon Cyclosporine Pharmacokinetics

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects ofNigella sativaandLepidium sativumon the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine in rabbits. Two groups of animals were treated separately withNigella sativa(200 mg/kg p.o.) orLepidium sativum(150 mg/kg p.o.) for eight consecutive days. On the 8th day, cyclosporine (30 mg/kg p.o.) was administered to each group one hour after herbal treatment. Blood samples were withdrawn at different time intervals (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0, 12, and 24 hrs) from marginal ear vein. Cyclosporine was analyzed using UPLC/MS method. The coadministration ofNigella sativasignificantly decreased theCmaxandAUC0-∞of cyclosporine; the change was observed by 35.5% and 55.9%, respectively (P≤0.05).Lepidium sativumdid not produce any significant change inCmaxof cyclosporine, although its absorption was significantly delayed compared with control group. A remarkable change was observed inTmaxandAUC0-tofLepidium sativumtreated group. Our findings suggest that concurrent consumption ofNigella sativaandLepidium sativumcould alter the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine at various levels.