Title:Biopharmaceutical and Pharmacokinetic Activities of Oxymatrine Determined by a Sensitive UHPLC-MS/MS Method
Volume: 23
Issue: 1
Author(s): Hai-Qiao Wang, Feng-Hua Chen, Liang Wang, Li-Qun Chi*Guang-Hua Wang*
Affiliation:
- Department of Pharmacy, Haidian Maternal & Child Health Hospital of Beijing, Beijing, 100080,China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongren Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University, School of Medicine, Shanghai,China
Keywords:
Oxymatrine, bioavailability, biopharmaceutics, absorption, metabolism, UHPLC-MS/MS.
Abstract:
Background: Oxymatrine is known as one of the most promising alkaloids from
Sophora flavescens for its excellent pharmacological effects.
Objective: The aim of this research is to assess the biopharmaceutical and pharmacokinetic
activities of oxymatrine and clarify its mechanisms of absorption and metabolism.
Methods: The biological characteristics of oxymatrine were systematically investigated by
UHPLC-MS/MS. The mechanisms of absorption and metabolism of oxymatrine were further
clarified through incubation in rat liver microsomes and transport across the Caco-2 monolayer
cell absorption model.
Results: It was found that the absolute oral bioavailability of oxymatrine was 26.43%, and the
pharmacokinetic parameters Cmax, Tmax, and t1/2 were 605.5 ng/mL, 0.75 h, and 4.181 h after oral
administration, indicating that oxymatrine can be absorbed quickly. The tissue distribution tests
showed that oxymatrine distributed throughout all the organs, with the small intestine
accumulating the highest level, followed by the kidney, stomach, and spleen. The Papp in Caco-2
cell line absorption model was over 1 × 10-5 and PDR 1.064, and t1/2 of oxymatrine in rat liver
microsome in vitro was 1.042 h, indicating that oxymatrine can be absorbed easily through
passive diffusion and CYP450 enzymes could be involved in its metabolism. The plasma protein
binding rate of oxymatrine was 2.78 ± 0.85%.
Conclusion: Oxymatrine can be absorbed into blood easily through passive diffusion, mainly
distributed in the intestine, stomach, liver, and spleen in vivo, and CYP450 enzymes in the liver
could be involved in its metabolism.