Sublingual administration of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol/β-cyclodextrin complex increases the bioavailability of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol in rabbits

The bioavailability of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) was determined after its sublingual administration as solid THC/β-cyclodextrin (THC/β-CD) complex, and was compared to oral administration of ethanolic THC, in rabbits.The absolute bioavailability of THC after sublingual administration of solid THC/β-CD complex powder (16.0 ± 7.5%; mean ± SD; n = 4) is higher than the bioavailability of THC after oral administration of ethanolic THC solution (1.3 ± 1.4%; mean ± SD; n = 4).The results suggest that sublingual administration of THC/β-CD complex is a useful tool in improving absolute bioavailability of THC.