Abstract
A significant correlation (r=0.6449, n=72, p < 0.01) between saliva and serum levels of intact quinine was observed after a single oral administration of 500mg of quinine sulphate to six healthy male volunteers. The mean saliva/serum ratio obtained from the individual data of volunteers was 0.2497 (±0.0145 SEM). Salivary compartment was approached to study the interactions of quinine with aspirin or analgin or paracetamol or oxyphenbutazone in healthy human subjects. Salivary levels of quinine did not differ significantly in presence of the drugs co-administered, indicating absence of interactions. Comparison of various pharmacokinetic parameters also substantiated this.