Abstract
Anthraquinones are a major group of polyphenols in the rhizome of Rheum palmatum L. (RP). This study investigated the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of anthraqinones
in RP decoction in rats. The concentrations of four anthraquinones including aloe-emodin,
rhein, emodin, chrysophanol, and their glycosides in the decoction were quantitated
by HPLC before and after acid hydrolysis with the results indicating that the anthraquinones
mainly existed as the glycoside form except for rhein. Rats were orally administered
RP decoction and blood samples were assayed by HPLC before and after treatments with
sulfatase and β-glucuronidase. It was found that the glucuronides of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin and
chrysophanol were predominant in the blood, whereas their aglycones were not detected
except for rhein. In conclusion, the anthraquinones were subject to a rapid and extensive
conjugation metabolism in rats and the serum metabolites of RP exhibited a potential
free radical scavenging effect on AAPH-induced hemolysis at pharmacologically relevant
concentrations.
Key words
Rheum palmatum
- Polygonaceae - metabolism - anthraquinones - pharmacokinetics - AAPH
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Pei-Dawn Lee Chao
Yu-Chi Hou
School of Pharmacy
China Medical University
91 Hsueh-Shih Rd
Taichung 404
Taiwan
ROC
Telefon: + 88 64 22 03 10 28
Fax: + 88 64 22 03 10 28
eMail: pdlchao@gmail.com
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