In Vivo Hypoglycemic Studies of Polyherbal Phytoceuticals, Their Pharmacokinetic Studies and Dose Extrapolation by Allometric Scaling.

BACKGROUND: This work reports the safety profiling, in vivo hypoglycemic and pharmacokinetic studies of three phytoceuticals viz. conventional and sustained release tablets and microspheres each containing a polyherbal product phytocomposite (PHC) as the active ingredient. PHC is prepared from the leaf extracts of Ficus benghalensis: Syzigium cumini: Ocimum sanctum mixed in the weight ratio of 1:1:2. Further no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL), maximum recommended starting dose (MRSD) in human and prediction of human pharmacokinetic parameters have been accomplished by allometric equations. METHODS: Acute and sub chronic studies of the phytoceuticals were done as per OECD and in vivo hypoglycemic studies in STZ induced diabetic rats. Plasma concentrations of the active constituent rutin (pharmacologically active compound of PHC) were determined by HPLC and other pharmacokinetic parameters using PK Solver. Repeated dose toxicity was carried out to determine the NOAEL value, MRSD estimated using allometric formulas of body surface area and clearance (CL) and volume of distribution (Vd) predicted by allometric equations of single species scaling. RESULTS: Phytoceuticals showed a wide range of safety profile with a significant lowering of blood gluco-lipid level. The values of the pharmacokinetic parameters for different doses of phytoceuticals showed that the active concentration was maintained in plasma level and each formulation complied with their relevant quality criteria. NOAEL value was 5000 mg/kg/body weight and MRSD was 4864.86 mg. CONCLUSION: Phytoceuticals prepared are safe and effectively controlled blood gluco lipid level. Animal to human dose extrapolation and prediction of human pharmacokinetic parameters by allometry was convenient.

Effects of rutin and buckwheat seeds on energy metabolism and methane production in dairy cows.

Flavonoids are secondary plant metabolites with several health promoting effects. As dairy cows often suffer from metabolic imbalance and health problems, interest is growing in health improvements by plant substances such as flavonoids. Our group has recently shown that the flavonoids quercetin and rutin (a glucorhamnoside of quercetin) are bioavailable in cows when given via a duodenal fistula or orally, respectively, affect glucose metabolism, and have beneficial effects on liver health. Furthermore, flavonoids may reduce rumen methane production in vitro through their antibacterial properties. To test the hypothesis that rutin has effects on energy metabolism, methane production, and production performance in dairy cows, we fed rutin trihydrate at a dose of 100mg/kg of body weight to a group of 7 lactating dairy cows for 2 wk in a crossover design. In a second experiment, 2 cows were fed the same ration but were supplemented with buckwheat seeds (Fagopyrum tartaricum), providing rutin at a dose comparable to the first experiment. Two other cows receiving barley supplements were used as controls in a change-over mode. Blood samples were taken weekly and respiration measurements were performed at the end of each treatment. Supplementation of pure rutin, but not of rutin contained in buckwheat seeds, increased the plasma quercetin content. Methane production and milk yield and composition were not affected by rutin treatment in either form. Plasma glucose, ß-hydroxybutyrate, and albumin were increased by pure rutin treatment, indicating a possible metabolic effect of rutin on energy metabolism of dairy cows. In addition, we did not show that in vivo ruminal methane production was reduced by rutin. In conclusion, we could not confirm earlier reports on in vitro methane reduction by rutin supplementation in dairy cows in established lactation.

Development of an LC-MS method for determination of three active constituents of Shuang-huang-lian injection in rat plasma and its application to the drug interaction study of Shuang-huang-lian freeze-dried powder combined with levofloxacin injection.

A sensitive and specific high performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometric (LC-MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of three main active constituents of Shuang-huang-lian injection with and without the combination use of levofloxacin injection in rat plasma. After addition of the internal standard rutin, plasma samples were protein precipitated with acetonitrile, the chromatographic separation was achieved on a Kromasil C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), using a gradient mobile phase system of acetonitrile-water containing 0.05% formic acid. The analytes were detected without interference in the selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode with positive electrospray ionization. The linear range was 0.04-20 µg/mL for chlorogenic acid, 0.8-400 µg/mL for baicalin and 0.01-5.0 µg/mL for phillyrin, respectively. The accuracy (relative error, R.E.%) were between -2.7 and 3.4%, while the intra-day and inter-day precisions were less than 9.2 and 9.6% for the three analytes, respectively. This method was successfully applied to the drug interaction study of Shuang-huang-lian freeze-dried powder combined with levofloxacin injection after intravenous administration to rats. The results indicated that there were obvious differences in the pharmacokinetic behaviors after combination compared with only administration of Shuang-huang-lian injection.

Simultaneous determination of vitexin-4''-O-glucoside, vitexin-2''-O-rhamnoside, rutin and vitexin from hawthorn leaves flavonoids in rat plasma by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS.

A sensitive and accurate ultra-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of vitexin-4''-O-glucoside (VGL), vitexin-2''-O-rhamnoside (VRH), rutin (RUT) and vitexin (VIT) in rat plasma after intravenous administration of hawthorn leaves flavonoids (HLF). Following protein precipitation by methanol, the analytes were separated on an ACQUITY UPLC BEH C(18) column packed with 1.7 microm particles by gradient elution using a mobile phase composed of acetonitrile and water (containing 0.1% formic acid) at a flow rate of 0.20 mL/min. The analytes and diphenhydramine (internal standard, IS) were detected in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode by means of an electrospray ionization (ESI) interface (m/z 292.96 for vitexin-4''-O-glucoside, m/z 293.10 for vitexin-2''-O-rhamnoside, m/z 299.92 for rutin, m/z 310.94 for vitexin and m/z 166.96 for IS). The calibration curve was linear over the range 10-40,000 ng/mL for vitexin-4''-O-glucoside, 10-50,000 ng/mL for vitexin-2''-O-rhamnoside, 8-1000 ng/mL for rutin and 16-2000 ng/mL for vitexin. The intra- and inter-run precisions (relative standard deviation, RSD) of these analytes were all within 15% and the accuracy (the relative error, RE) ranged from -10% to 10%. The stability experiment indicated that the four analytes in rat plasma samples and plasma extracts under anticipated conditions were stable. The developed method was applied for the first time to pharmacokinetic studies of the four bioactive compounds of hawthorn leaves flavonoids following a single intravenous administration of 20 mg/kg in rats.

Effects of combined administration of quercetin, rutin, and extract of white radish sprout rich in kaempferol glycosides on the metabolism in rats.

Quercetin, rutin, the extract of white radish sprout rich in kaempferol glycosides, and their combination were intragastrically administered to Wistar rats to investigate the interactive metabolism of these flavonoids. The combined administration of these flavonoids changed the concentrations of the metabolites in plasma as compared with the concentrations after the administration of a single compound.