Comparative pharmacokinetic analysis of raw and steamed roots in rats by UPLC-MS/MS for simultaneously quantifying seven saponins.

CONTEXT

After being steamed, the restorative effects of (Burk.) F. H. Chen (Araliaceae) will be strengthened. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the pharmacokinetics of ginsenosides Rg, Rb, Rd, Re, Rg, Rk, notoginsenoside R (GRg, GRb, GRd, GRe, GRg, GRk and NGR) in the raw and steam-processed (RPN and SPN).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The pharmacokinetics of seven components after oral administration of SPN and RPN extracts (1.0 g/kg) were investigated, respectively, in SD rats (two groups,  = 6) using UPLC-MS/MS.

RESULTS

The approach elicited good linear regression ( > 0.991). The accuracy, precision and stability were all within ± 15%. The extraction recoveries and matrix effects were 75.0-100.8% and 85.1-110.3%, respectively. Compared with the RPN group, AUC of GRg (176.63 ± 42.49 ng/h/mL), GRb (5094.06 ± 1453.14 ng/h/mL), GRd (1396.89 ± 595.14 ng/h/mL), and NGR (135.95 ± 54.32 ng/h/mL), along with of GRg (17.41 ± 5.43 ng/mL), GRb (361.48 ± 165.57 ng/mL), GRd (62.47 ± 33.65 ng/mL) and NGR (23.97 ± 16.77 ng/mL) decreased remarkably with oral administration of the SPN extracts, while GRe showed no significantly difference. Of note, GRg and GRk could not be detected in the plasma.

CONCLUSIONS

Influence of the processing reduced the systemic exposure levels to GRg, GRb, GRd and NGR. It is the first report of comparative pharmacokinetic study of multiple saponins analysis after oral administration of RPN and SPN extract, which might be helpful for further studies on its steam-processing mechanism.