[Correlation between drug-induced liver injury in rats caused by Xianling Gubao oral preparation and extraction process]

In light of the liver injury risk associated with the oral administration of Xianlin Gubao oral preparation, this study compared the differences in liver injury induced by two different extraction processes in rats and explored the correlation between hepatotoxicity and extraction process from the perspective of the differences in the content of the relevant components. Thirty male Sprague-Dawley(SD) rats were randomly divided into a normal group, tablet extract groups of different doses, and capsule extract groups of different doses, with 6 rats in each group. Each group received continuous oral administration for 4 weeks. The assessment of liver injury caused by different extracts was conducted by examining rat body weight, liver function blood biochemical indicators, liver coefficient, and liver pathological changes. In addition, a high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC) method was established to simultaneously determine the content of icariin, baohuoside I, and bakuchiol in the extracts to compare the differences in the content of these three components under the two extraction processes. The results showed that both extracts caused liver injury in rats. Compared with the normal group, the tablet extract groups, at the studied dose, led to slow growth in body weight, a significant increase in triglyceride levels(P<0.05), a significant decrease in liver-to-brain ratio(P<0.05), and the appearance of hepatic steatosis. The capsule extract groups, at the studied dose, resulted in slow growth in body weight, a significant increase in aspartate aminotransferase levels(P<0.05), a significant decrease in body weight, liver weight, and liver-to-brain ratio(P<0.05), and the presence of hepatic steatosis and inflammatory cell infiltration. In comparison, the capsule extraction process had a higher risk of liver injury. Furthermore, based on the completion of the liquid chromatography method, the content of icariin and baohuoside Ⅰ in the capsule extract groups was 0.83 and 0.81 times that in the tablet extract groups, respectively, while the bakuchiol content in the capsule extract group was 29.80 times that in the tablet extract groups, suggesting that the higher risk of liver injury associated with the capsule extraction process may be due to its higher bakuchiol content. In summary, the differences in rat liver injury caused by the two extracts are closely related to the extraction process. This should be taken into consideration in the formulation production and clinical application.

[Effects and mechanism of epimedium polysaccharide on solubility of icariin and baohuoside Ⅰ]

This study evaluated the effects of epimedium polysaccharide(EPS) on the solubility of icariin and baohuoside Ⅰ so as to preliminary explore its solubilization function and the underlying mechanism. The solubility of these two insoluble flavonoids in water and polysaccharide solutions was compared by high performance liquid chromatography, and the mechanism was investigated by diffe-rential scanning calorimetry(DSC) and critical micelle concentration determination. The results indicated that their solubilization in crude EPS solutions was concentration-dependent. The solubility of icariin and baohuoside Ⅰ in 20 mg·mL~(-1) EPS-1-1 was 9.05 times and 5.76 times that in water, respectively; while their solubility in 20 mg·mL~(-1) EPS-2-1 was 10.55 and 8.39 times that in water, respectively. The change of the DSC thermograms suggested the formation of new complexes from icariin and baohuoside Ⅰ with polysaccharides. The critical micelle concentrations proved the micellar properties of both EPS-1-1 and EPS-2-1. In short, EPS can significantly increase the solubility of icariin and baohuoside Ⅰ, the mechanism of which may be related to the formation of micellar complexes between EPS and insoluble flavonoids.

[Effect of processing excipient suet oil on formation and absorption of baohuoside Ⅰ-bile salt self-assembled micelles]

The fried method with suet oil,which can strengthen the effect of Epimedium in warming kidney and enhancing Yang,has been widely used in the processing of Epimedium in traditional Chinese medicine. Based on the formation mechanism of Epimedium flavonoids self-assembled micelles in vivo,the synergistic mechanism of processing excipient suet oil was investigated in this paper from the perspective of pharmaceutics. Baohuoside Ⅰ,as representative component of processed Epimedium,was selected as model drug.Average size and zeta potential were measured and the morphology of micelles was observed under transmission electron microscopy. Caco-2 monolayer cell model,rat intestinal perfusion model and in vivo serum drug concentration method were established to investigate the effect of suet oil on the formation and absorption of the baohuosideⅠ bile salt self-assembled micelles. Baohuoside Ⅰ can form selfassembled micelles under the action of sodium deoxycholate. While,adding suet oil into the baohuoside Ⅰ-bile salt micelles( BSDOC) can make it form a more stable system with a smaller average size,higher Zeta potential,lower polydispersity index( PDI) value,significantly improved encapsulation efficiency and drug loading,indicating that suet oil could significantly improve the micelle formation in vivo. In addition,the permeability coefficient of baohuoside Ⅰ in Caco-2 monolayer cells and the four intestinal organs( duodenum,jejunum,ileum and colon) was increased and the oral bioavailability was also improved after adding the suet oil to BS-DOC.All the results demonstrated that the suet oil can promote the formation and absorption of baohuoside Ⅰ self-assembled micelles,so as to enhance its synergistic effects.

[Preparation method and pharmacological effect of baohuoside Ⅰ]

Epimedii Folium, a famous traditional Chinese medicine made of dried leaves of Epimedium brevicomu, E. pubescens, E. sagittatum or E. koreanum, has been applied in China for several thousand years as a medicine. It has the function of reinforcing kidney Yang, strengthening muscles and bones and dispelling rheumatism. Modern studies have shown that baohuoside Ⅰ has a low content in Herba Epimedii, but it has a wide range of pharmacological effects, such as anti-osteoporosis, anti-tumor, improving cognitive dysfunction, cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury protection, and neuroprotection. More and more attention has been paid to the preparation methods and pharmacological effects of baohuoside Ⅰ due to its many biological activities and pharmacological effects. In this present research, in order to provide references for the better mass preparation and rational exploitation of baohuoside Ⅰ, we summarized and sorted out the preparation methods and pharmacological effects of baohuoside Ⅰ which were published in recent years.