Pharmacokinetics of isoliquiritigenin and its metabolites in rats

The importance of pharmacokinetic studies as well as in vitro studies in herbal components is increasing because a large number of herbal products have been used as adjuvant or alternative medicines. Isoliquiritigenin (isoLQ) has shown a variety of biological activity including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, estrogenic, chemopreventive and antitumor effects. In this study, we were evaluated the pharmacokinetics of isoLQ and its metabolites after its intravenous (10, 20 and 50mg/kg) and oral (20, 50 and 100mg/kg) administration in rats.

After the intravenous administration and oral administration of isoLQ, the AUCs of isoLQ and its metabolites show dose-independent manners. The oral bioavailability of isoLQ was approximately 10% in rats, possibly due to the metabolism of isoLQ. Also the studies for tissue distribution, plasma protein binding and in vitro metabolism of isoLQ were conducted in rats.