Low Oral Bioavailability and Pharmacokinetics of Senkyunolide A, a Major Bioactive Component in Rhizoma Chuanxiong, in the Rat

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of an essential oil obtained from the fruit of Apium graveolens L. (celery seed oil) for all animal species (FEFANA asbl)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of an essential oil obtained from the fruit of Apium graveolens L. (celery seed oil), when used as a sensory additive in feed and water for drinking for all animal species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) Panel concluded that the use of celery seed oil is of no concern up to the following concentrations in complete feed: 1.6 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 2.3 mg/kg for laying hens, 2.1 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening, 2.8 mg/kg for piglets, 3.3 mg/kg for pigs for fattening, 4.1 mg/kg for sows, 6.5 mg/kg for veal calves (milk replacer), 6.2 mg/kg for cattle for fattening, sheep, goats and horses, 4.0 mg/kg for dairy cows, 2.5 mg/kg for rabbits, 6.8 mg/kg for salmonids and 7.2 mg/kg for dogs. These conclusions were extrapolated to other physiologically related species. For cats, ornamental fish and other species, no conclusion can be drawn. The use of celery seed oil in animals feed is not expected to pose concern for the consumers and for the environment. The additive under assessment should be considered as an irritant to skin and eyes, and as a respiratory and skin sensitiser. When handling the essential oil, exposure of unprotected users to perillaldehyde and bergapten may occur. Therefore, to reduce the risk, the exposure of the users should be minimised. Since A. graveolens and its preparations were recognised to flavour food and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy was considered necessary.

Safety and efficacy of a feed additive consisting of a tincture derived from the roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (dong quai tincture) for use in poultry, horses, dogs and cats (FEFANA asbl)

Following a request from the European Commission, EFSA was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on the safety and efficacy of a tincture from the roots of Angelica sinensis (Oliv.) Diels (dong quai tincture) when used as a sensory additive in feed for horses, dogs and cats and in water for drinking for poultry species. The EFSA Panel on Additives and Products or Substances used in Animal Feed (FEEDAP) concluded that the additive is safe for horses and dogs at the maximum proposed use level of 123 and 481 mg/kg complete feed, respectively. For cats, the calculated safe concentration is 184 mg/kg complete feed. For the poultry species, the calculated safe concentration in water for drinking is 79 mg/kg for chickens for fattening, 117 mg/kg for laying hens and 106 mg/kg for turkeys for fattening. No safety concern would arise for the consumer from the use of dong quai tincture up to the highest safe levels in feed. The additive under assessment should be considered as irritant to skin and eyes, and as a dermal and respiratory sensitiser. The use of the dong quai tincture as a flavour in animal feed was not expected to pose a risk for the environment. Since the root of A. sinensis has flavouring properties and its function in feed would be essentially the same as that in food, no further demonstration of efficacy is considered necessary.

Senkyunolide H Affects Cerebral Ischemic Injury through Regulation on Autophagy of Neuronal Cells via P13K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Cerebral ischemia (CI) is associated with high global incidence and risk; therefore, its rapid and reliable therapeutic management is essential for protecting patients' lives and improving health. Senkyunolide H (SH) is remarkably effective against phlebosclerosis, oxidation, and apoptosis. Blood-brain barrier is the main obstacle impeding the delivery of drugs and xenobiotics to brain areas. Drugs' loading in nanoparticles can overcome the blood-brain barrier obstacle and thus directly and completely act on brain tissue, and such a loading can also change the half-life of drugs in vivo and lower the dosage requirement of drugs. In this study, we loaded the SH in lipid nanoparticles to improve its delivery to the brain for the therapy of CI. Thus, this study preliminarily analyzed the mechanism of SH-loaded nanoparticles in CI. The SH-loaded lipid nanoparticles were prepared and characterized with electron microscopy and PS potentiometery. The SH-loaded nanoparticles were intraperitoneally administered to CI-induced rats and brain tissue water content, and neuronal apoptosis and autophagy-associated proteins were determined. Our assays revealed SH-loaded nanoparticle's ability to reduce nerve injury and brain tissue water content in rats with CI and inhibit the apoptosis and autophagy of their neuronal cells (NCs). Additionally, under intervention with SH-loaded nanoparticles, P13K/AKT/mTOR pathway-associated proteins in brain tissue of rats decreased. As the assay results showed, SH-loaded nanoparticles can suppress the autophagy of NCs through medicating P13K/AKT/mTOR pathway and lower apoptosis, thus delivering the effect of treating CI. Results of this study indicate SH-loaded nanoparticles as promising strategy for delivery SH to brain areas for treating CI.

Pharmacokinetics of five phthalides in volatile oil of Ligusticum sinense Oliv.cv. Chaxiong, and comparison study on physicochemistry and pharmacokinetics after being formulated into solid dispersion and inclusion compound

BACKGROUNDS

The dried rhizome of Ligusticum sinense Oliv.cv. Chaxiong has been used to treat cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, atherosclerosis, anemia and stroke. A high purity extract from chaxiong (VOC, brownish yellow oil) was extracted and separated. Its main components were senkyunolide A (SA, 33.81%), N-butylphthalide (NBP, 1.38%), Neocnidilide (NOL, 16.53%), Z-ligustilide (ZL, 38.36%), and butenyl phthalide (BP, 2.48%), respectively. Little is known about the pharmacokinetics of these phthalides in Chaxiong, and different preparations to improve the physicochemistry and pharmacokinetics of VOC have not been investigated.

METHODS

At different predetermined time points after oral administration or intravenous administration, the concentrations of SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in the rat plasma were determined using LC-MS/MS, and the main PK parameters were investigated. VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound were prepared by melting solvent method and grinding method, respectively. Moreover, the physicochemical properties, dissolution and pharmacokinetics of VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound in rats were assessed in comparison to VOC.

RESULTS

The absorptions of SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in VOC were rapid after oral administration, and the absolute bioavailability was less than 25%. After the two preparations were prepared, dissolution rate was improved at pH 5.8 phosphate buffer solution. Comparing VOC and physical mixture with the solid dispersion and inclusion compound, it was observed differences occurred in the chemical composition, thermal stability, and morphology. Both VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound had a significantly higher AUC and longer MRT in comparison with VOC.

CONCLUSION

SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in VOC from chaxiong possessed poor absolute oral bioavailability. Both VOC-P188 solid dispersion and VOC-β-CD inclusion compound could be prospective means for improving oral bioavailability of SA, NBP, NOL, ZL and BP in VOC.

Metabolic profiling of senkyunolide A and identification of its metabolites in hepatocytes by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detector and high-resolution mass spectrometry

RATIONALE

Senkyunolide A is one of the bioactive constituents originally isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. To better understand the action of this constituent, it is necessary to study the metabolic profiles in different species.

METHODS

For the metabolic stability study, senkyunolide A at a concentration of 0.5 μM was individually incubated with hepatocytes of mouse, rat, dog, monkey and human at 37°C for 2 h. For metabolite profiling and identification, senkyunolide A (10 μM) was incubated with hepatocytes and the incubation samples were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography combined with diode-array detector and high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC/DAD-HRMS). The identities of the metabolites were characterized by accurate masses, product ions and retention times.

RESULTS

Senkyunolide A was metabolically unstable in hepatocytes. The in vitro half-lives were 136.2, 60.6, 33.65, 55.96 and 138 min in mouse, rat, dog, monkey and human hepatocytes, respectively. Furthermore, a total of 14 metabolites were detected. M1 and M9 were the most abundant metabolites in all species. The metabolic pathways of senkyunolide A involved the following pathways: (1) hydroxylation to form 10- and 11-hydroxysenkyunolide A, which further underwent epoxidation followed by GSH conjugation; (2) epoxidation followed by epoxide hydrolysis or GSH conjugation; and (3) aromatization to form 3-butylphthalide followed by hydroxylation.

CONCLUSIONS

Hydroxylation, epoxidation, aromatization and GSH conjugation were the main metabolic pathways of senkyunolide A. This study provides an overview of the metabolic profiles of senkyunolide A, which is helpful for a better understanding of the action of this compound.

The Effects of Warfarin on the Pharmacokinetics of Senkyunolide I in a Rat Model of Biliary Drainage After Administration of Chuanxiong

The aim of this study was to elucidate the effects of warfarin on senkyunolide I in a rat model of biliary drainage after oral administration Chuanxiong extract based on pharmacokinetics. Thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four groups: CN, healthy rats after a single administration of Chuanxiong; CO, rats with biliary drainage after a single administration of Chuanxiong; WCN, healthy rats after the administration of Chuanxiong and warfarin; WCO, rats with biliary drainage after the administration of Chuanxiong and warfarin. A series of blood samples were collected at different time points before and after oral administration. An ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method for quantification of the main components of Chuanxiong and methyclothiazide (internal standard) have been established. The validated method was successfully applied to a comparative pharmacokinetics study. After calculated by the DAS 2.1.1 software, the pharmacokinetics parameters of senkyunolide I showed a significant difference between the CN and CO groups, the AUC_0-t, and C_max of CO group increased by 5.45, 4.02 folds, respectively. There was a significant difference between the WCO and WCN groups, the T_max of WCO group prolonged 67%; compared to the CN group, the AUC_0-t, and C_max of WCN group raised 4.84, 3.49 folds, respectively; the T_max and C_max between the CO and WCO groups also showed a significant difference. The drug warfarin significantly affected the senkyunolide I disposition, which partly due to its enterohepatic circulation process in rat plasma after oral administration of Chuanxiong. The present study highlights an urgent evidence for drug-herb interactions.

A validated LC-MS/MS method for the determination of senkyunolide I in dog plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies

Senkyunolide I is one of the major bioactive components in the herbal medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong. The aim of this study was to develop and validate a fast, simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method for the determination of senkyunolide I in dog plasma. The plasma samples were processed with acetonitrile and separated on a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH C₁₈ column (50 × 2.1 mm, 1.7 μm). The mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid aqueous and acetonitrile was delivered at a flow rate of 0.3 mL min^-1 . The detection was achieved in the positive selected reaction monitoring mode with precursor-to-product transitions at m/z 225.1 → 161.1 for senkyunolide I and at m/z 349.1 → 305.1 for an internal standard. The assay was linear over the tested concentration range, from 0.5 ng mL^-1 to 1000 ng mL^-1 , with a correlation coefficient >0.9992. The mean extraction recovery from dog plasma was within the range of 85.78-93.25%, while the matrix effect of the analyte was within the range of 98.23-108.89%. The intra- and inter-day precisions (RSD) were <12.12% and the accuracy (RR) ranged from 98.89% to 104.24%. The validated assay was successfully applied to pharmacokinetic and bioavailability studies of senkyunolide I in dogs. The results demonstrated that (a) senkyunolide I showed short elimination half-life (<1 h) in dog, (b) its oral bioavailability was >40% and (c) senkyunolide I showed dose-independent pharmacokinetic profiles in dog plasma over the dose range of 1-50 mg kg^-1 .

Preparation and structural determination of four metabolites of senkyunolide I in rats using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight tandem mass and nuclear magnetic resonance spectra

Background

Senkyunolide I (SEI) is one of the most important bioactive phthalides of Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae), a Traditional Chinese Medicine. Our previous studies suggested that it might be developed as a potential treatment for migraine.

Methods

In this paper, we aimed to isolate and characterize the main metabolites of SEI after gavage feeding in rats. Their structures were identified precisely on the basis of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and UPLC/Q-TOF-MS spectrometry. We also established the main metabolic pathways of SEI in rats.

Results

Four metabolites (M1-M4) were isolated, for the first time, from bile samples of rats by preparative high-performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were determined as SEI-6S-O-β-D-glucuronide (M1), SEI-7S-O-β-D-glucuronide (M2), SEI-7S-S-glutathione (M3) and SEI-7R-S-glutathione (M4) on the basis of the molecular mass of the analytes, using ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and 1D and 2D NMR.

Conclusions

The results demonstrated that glucuronide and glutathione conjugation were the major pathways of SEI metabolism in vivo, and the configuration at the 7th-position could be inverted during glutathione conjugation.

Analgesic activity of DaChuanXiongFang after intranasal administration and its potential active components in vivo

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

DaChuanXiongFang was a well-known formula originated from Jin Dynasty, China. It has been used in both China and Japan to treat migraine. In the present study, the analgesic and sedative efficacy of DaChuanXiongFang ethanol extract (DCXFEE) after intranasal administration was tested and compared with that by intragastric route.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three mice experimental models: acetic acid-induced writhing response test, hot-plate latent pain response test and pentobarbital-induced sleep model were used to evaluate DCXFEE activity. To further explore the in vivo potential active components of DCXFEE that contribute to the difference of activity induced by different administration route, ultra performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS) was utilized to analyze components in rat brain after given DCXFEE (60 mg/kg).

RESULTS

DCXFEE showed analgesic efficacy after intranasal administration (15, 30 and 60 mg/kg) in acetic acid-induced writhing response in mice. While after intragastric administration, DCXFEE only showed analgesic efficacy at high dose (60 mg/kg). Moreover, the analgesic potency was weaker after intragastric administration compared with that after intranasal administration at the same dose (60 mg/kg). Similar results were obtained in hot-plate latent pain response test in mice. DCXFEE (60 mg/kg) had no sedative effect after intranasal and intragastric administration. No components originated from DCXFEE were identified in rat brain 15 min after oral administration. One major parent component ligustilide was detected in rat brain after intranasal administration.

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrate that DCXFEE had faster onset of action as well as better analgesic efficacy after intranasal administration than that after intragastric administration. DCXFEE has no sedative activity on potentiation of pentobarbital-induced sleep in mice given by both routes. Ligustilide might represents the potential major bioactive component of DCXFEE after intranasal administration and contribute to its analgesic activity in vivo.

In vivo pharmacokinetic comparisons of ferulic acid and puerarin after oral administration of monomer, medicinal substance aqueous extract and Nao-De-Sheng to rats

Background:

Nao-De-Sheng decoction (NDS), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription containing Radix puerariae lobatae, Floscarthami, Radix et Rhizoma Notoginseng, Rhizoma chuanxiong and Fructus crataegi, is effective in the treatment of cerebral arteriosclerosis, ischemic cerebral stroke and apoplexy linger effect. Ferulic acid and puerarin are the main absorbed effective ingredients of NDS.

Objective:

To assess the affection of other components in medical material and compound recipe compatibility on the pharmacokinetics of ferulaic acid and puerarin, of ferulic acid from the monomer Rhizoma chuanxiong aqueous extract and NDS were studied. And pharmacokinetics comparisons of puerarin from the monomer Radix puerariae extract and NDS decoction were investigated simultaneously.

Materials and Methods:

At respective different time points after oral administration of the monomer, medicinal substance aqueous extract and NDS at the same dose in rats, plasma concentrations of ferulic acid and puerarin in rats were determined by RP-HPLC, and the main pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated with 3P97 software.

Results:

The plasma concentration-time curves of ferulaic acid and puerarin were both best fitted with a two-compartment model. AUC_0−t, AUC₀→_∞, T_max, and C_max of ferulic acid in the monomer and NDS decoction were increased significantly (P < 0.05) compared with that in Rhizoma chuanxiong aqueous extract. And statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in pharmacokinetic parameters of puerarin including AUC_0−t, AUC₀→_∞, CL, T_max and C_max were obtained after oral administration of puerarin monomer compared with Radix puerariae extract. Although the changes of AUC_0−t, AUC₀→_∞ and CL had no statistically significant, C_max of puerarin in NDS was increased remarkably (P < 0.05) compared with that in single puerarin.

Conclusions:

Some ingredients of Rhizoma chuanxiong and Radix puerariae may be suggested to remarkably influence plasma concentrations of ferulaic acid and puerarin. Some ingredients in NDS may increase dissolution and absorption of ferulaic acid and puerarin, delay elimination, and subsequently enhance bioavailability of ferulaic acid and puerarin in rats after compatibility.

Simultaneously enantiospecific determination of (+)-trans-khellactone, (+/-)-praeruptorin A, (+/-)-praeruptorin B, (+)-praeruptorin E, and their metabolites, (+/-)-cis-khellactone, in rat plasma using online solid phase extraction-chiral LC-MS/MS

Many chiral drugs are used as the racemic mixtures in clinical practice. The occurrence of enantioselectively pharmacological activities calls for the development of enantiospecific analytical approaches during pharmacokinetic studies of enantiomers. Sample preparation plays a key role during quantitative analysis of biological samples. In current study, a rapid and reliable online solid phase extraction-chiral high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (online SPE-chiral LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the simultaneously enantiospecific quantitation of (+)-trans-khellactone (dTK), (+/-)-cis-khellactone (d/lCK), (+/-)-praeruptorin A (d/lPA), (+/-)-praeruptorin B (d/lPB) and (+)-praeruptorin E (dPE), the main active angular-type pyranocoumarins (APs) in Peucedani Radix (Chinese name: Qian-hu) or the major metabolites of those APs, in rat plasma. The validation assay results described here show good selectivity and enantiospecificity, extraction efficiency, accuracy and precision with quantification limits (LOQs) of 2.57, 1.28, 1.28, 1.88, 4.16, 4.16 and 4.18ngmL(-1) for dTK, lCK, dCK, dPA, dPB, lPB and dPE, respectively, while lPA was not detected in rat plasma due to the carboxylesterase(s)-mediated hydrolysis. In addition, the validated system was satisfactorily applied to characterize the pharmacokinetic properties of those components in normal and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) rats following oral administration of Qian-hu extract. dCK and lCK were observed as the main herb-related compounds in plasma. Enantioselectively pharmacokinetic profiles occurred for dCK vs lCK, dPA vs lPA, and dPB vs lPB in either normal or COPD rats. The proposed whole system is expected to be a preferable analytical tool for in vivo study of chiral drugs, in particular for the characterization of enantioselectively pharmacokinetic profiles.

Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and metabolism of senkyunolide I, a major bioactive component in Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae)

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort. (Umbelliferae) is widely prescribed for treatment of cardiovascular diseases in China for centuries. One of the major bioactive components in L. chuanxiong is senkyunolide I (SEI), which shows pharmacological activities in anti-migraine and anti-oxidative damage.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The aim of this study was to investigate in vivo pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and metabolism of SEI in rats. The concentrations of SEI in plasma and tissues were determined by a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, and the pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated using and non-compartmental analysis. The metabolites were identified using high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method.

RESULTS

After oral and intravenous administration, SEI was quickly eliminated from plasma and its oral bioavailability (BA) was about 37.25%, which was smaller than intraportal BA (81.17%), but similar to intraduodenal BA (36.91%), suggesting that gastric first-pass effect of SEI is negligible, and hepatic first-pass effect was approximately 18.83%. After oral administration, SEI could penetrate blood brain barrier and extensively distribute in tested tissues, with the descending order of AUC being kidney, liver, lung, muscle, brain, heart, thymus, and spleen in rat. The parent compound and nine metabolites were found and identified in rat bile after oral administration of SEI (36 mg/kg). The metabolic mechanism of SEI in rat mainly involves methylation, glucuronidation and glutathione conjugation during the phase II biotransformation pathway in rats.

CONCLUSIONS

The information gained here may provide a meaningful basis for clinical application of such a bioactive compound of herbal medicines.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of ligustilide, a major bioactive component in Rhizoma Chuanxiong, in the rat

Ligustilide is the most abundant bioactive ingredient in Rhizoma Chuanxiong, a Chinese medicinal herb commonly used for the treatment of cardiovascular ailments. The present study reported, for the first time, the pharmacokinetics of ligustilide, administered in its pure form and in an herbal extract, in rats. After i.v. administration of pure ligustilide, it was distributed extensively (V(d), 3.76 +/- 1.23 l/kg) and eliminated rapidly (t(1/2), 0.31 +/- 0.12 h). The i.v. clearance (CL) of ligustilide after Chuanxiong extract administration was significantly higher than that dosed in its pure form [CL, 20.35 +/- 3.05 versus 9.14 +/- 1.27 l/h/kg, p < 0.01; area under the curve (AUC), 0.79 +/- 0.10 versus 1.81 +/- 0.24 mg x h/l, p < 0.01], suggesting significant interaction between ligustilide and components present in the extract. Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics was observed after i.p. administration, and a significantly higher dose-normalized AUC (1.77 +/- 0.23 mg x h/l) at 52 mg/kg was obtained than that at 26 mg/kg (0.93 +/- 0.07 mg x h/l, p < 0.05). Oral bioavailability of ligustilide was low (2.6%), which was partly because of extensive first-pass metabolism in the liver. Seven metabolites of ligustilide were identified, and three of them were unequivocally characterized as butylidenephthalide, senkyunolide I, and senkyunolide H. These three compounds also occurred naturally in the herb and were reported to be bioactive.