Abstract: AIM: To study the effect of licorice on carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide pharmacokinetics in rats. METHODS: Experimental rats were randomly divided into the control and test group, which was administrated respectively with normal saline and extract of licorice.After pretreated with extract of licorice (0.5 g/kg, q.d.) for 7 days, carbamazepine was given to the rats by intragastric administration.The plasma concentrations of carbamazepine and carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide were determined by HPLC. Pharmacokinetic parameters between two groups were compared. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two groups in the main pharmacokinetic parameters of carbamazepine, such as C_max, t_max, t_1/2, AUC_{0→24 h}, AUC_0→∞, MRT (P＞0.05),the same as carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide of C_max, t_max and AUC_{0→24 h}.CONCLUSION: The results suggest that treatment with extract of licorice (0.5 g/kg, q.d.) for 7 days did not affect the pharmacokinetics of carbamazepine in rats.

Key words: Licorice, Carbamazepine, Carbamazepine-10,11-epoxide, Pharmacokinetics, Interaction