[Biliary excretion of genistein and its metabolite at different doses in rats].

AIM: To study the biliary excretion of genistein and its metabolite at different doses in rats. METHODS: Suspended in 0.5% CMC-Na solution, genistein was orally administered to rats at the dose of 6.25, 12.5 and 50 mg x kg(-1), separately. At various time intervals, the bile was collected. The bile was treated with beta-glucuronidase. The genistein in bile was extracted twice by vortexing with 2.0 mL mixture of methyl tert-tubtyl ether and pentane (8:2). The organic phase was removed into the tubes and then evaporated in ventilation cabinet. The residue was dissolved in 50 microL of methanol. Twenty microL solution was drawn and detected by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: The accumulative biliary excretion of genistein was (42.56 +/- 6.54) , (75.17 +/- 18.87) and (126.60 +/- 34.78) microg at the dose of 6.25, 12.5 and 50 mg x kg(-1), respectively. The total drug (genistein plus glucuronidated genistein) excreted from bile was (108.46 +/- 35.23), (423.46 +/- 158.31) and ( 853.74 +/- 320. 84) microg, and the ratio of glucuronidated genistein was 60.76% , 82.25% and 85.17% at the dose of 6.25, 12.5 and 50 mg x kg(-1), respectively. CONCLUSION: The genistein was excreted mainly in the form of glucuronidated genistein in rat bile. The genistein and glucuronidated genistein were excreted in a nonlinear dose-dependent manner.

Protective effects of Rheum tanguticum polysaccharide against hydrogen peroxide-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury.

AIM: To describe the effect of Rheum tanguticum polysaccharide (RTP) on hydrogen peroxide-induced human intestinal epithelial cell injury. METHODS: Hydrogen peroxide (100 micromol/L) was introduced to induce human intestinal epithelial cell injury. Cells were pretreated with RTP (30,100,300 microg/mL) for 24 h before exposure to hydrogen peroxide. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay and morphological observation. Acridine orange staining and flow cytometry were performed to assess cell apoptosis. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, production of malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were measured by spectrophotometry with corresponding assay kits. RESULTS: Following exposure to H(2)O(2), a marked decrease in cell survival and SOD activity, increased production of MDA, LDH leakage and cell apoptosis were found. Pretreatment of the cells with RTP could significantly elevate cell survival, SOD activity and decrease the level of MDA, LDH activity and cell apoptosis. CONCLUSION: RTP may have cytoprotective and anti-oxidant effects against H(2)O(2)-induced intestinal epithelial cell injury by inhibiting cell apoptosis and necrosis. This might be one of the possible mechanisms of RTP for the treatment of ulcerative colitis in rats.