Cytosolic β-glucosidase inhibition and renal blood flow suppression are leading causes for the enhanced systemic exposure of salidroside in hypoxic rats.

The promising benefits of salidroside (SAL) in alleviating high altitude sickness boost investigations on its pharmacokinetics and biological activity. However, the transportation and disposition process of SAL under hypoxic conditions has never been explored. The current study was proposed to investigate the pharmacokinetics of SAL in hypoxic rats and to explore the underlying mechanisms for the distinct metabolic fate of SAL under hypoxia. Pharmacokinetic studies on SAL was conducted in both hypoxic and normoxic rats. The transport properties of SAL were investigated on both hypoxic and normoxic Caco-2 monolayer models. Enzymes involved in SAL metabolism were identified and the effects of hypoxia on these enzymes were assessed by real-time PCR, western blotting analyses, and rat liver homogenate incubation. The renal clearance (CL) of SAL, effective renal plasma flow (ERPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in both hypoxic and normoxic rats were also determined for renal function assessment. It was found that the systemic exposure of SAL in hypoxic rats was remarkably higher than that in normoxic rats. The barrier function of Caco-2 monolayer was weakened under hypoxia due to the impaired brush border microvilli and decreased expression of tight junction protein. Hepatic metabolism of SAL in hypoxic rats was attenuated due to the reduced activity of cytosolic β-glucosidase (CBG). Moreover, CL of SAL was reduced in hypoxic rats due to the suppressed ERPF. Our findings suggest the potential need for dose-adjustment of SAL or its structural analogs under hypoxic conditions.