[The pharmacokinetics of rhein in 12 healthy volunteers after oral administration of rhubarb extract].
OBJECTIVE
To study the pharmacokinetics of rhein in 12 healthy volunteers after oral administration of rhubarb extract.


METHODS
The blood sample were obtained at 0,0.083,0.5,1,1.5,2,3,4,5,7,10 h after a single dose oral administration of rhubarb (50 mg x kg(-1)). The plasma rhein concentration was determined by HPLC. The pharmacokinetics of rhein were analysed by 3P97 program.


RESULTS
The absorption of rhein was very fastafter oral administration of rhubarb extract in the healthy volunteers. The main pharmacokinetic parameters of rhein were C(max) (3.20 +/- 1.08) microg x mL(-1); t(max) (1.03 +/- 0.41) h; t(1/2alpha) (0.21 +/- 0.02) h; t(1/2beta) (2.68 +/- 1.09) h; MRT(5.31 +/- 1.78) h; AUC(0-infinity) (1 573.08 +/- 366.48) microg x mL(-1) min(-1), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Rhein could be absorbed rapidly and its pharmacokinetics was consistent with two-compartment model.
Zhu
Wei
W
Institute of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine of Peking University First Hospital, Beijing 100034, China. zwwbx@163.com
Zhang
Li
L
Wang
Xue-Mei
XM
Wang
Bao-Xiu
BX
Li
Xiao-Ye
XY
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000880:Anthraquinones / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry; D012250:Rheum / Q000737:chemistry
D000880:Anthraquinones; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; C020491:rhein