title: Improved absorption and bioactivity of active compounds from an anti-diabetic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L.
abstract: An ethanolic extract of Artemisia dracunculus L. (PMI-5011) was shown to be hypoglycemic in animal models for Type 2 diabetes and contains at least 6 bioactive compounds responsible for its anti-diabetic properties. To evaluate the bioavailability of the active compounds, high fat dietary induced obese C57BL/6J male mice were gavaged with PMI-5011 at 500mg/kg body weight, after 4h of food restriction. Blood plasma samples (200uL) were obtained after ingestion, and the concentrations of the active compound in the blood sera were measured by electrospray LC-MS and determined to be maximal 4-6h after gavage. Formulations of the extract with bioenhancers/solubilizers were evaluated in vivo for hypoglycemic activity and their effect on the abundance of active compounds in blood sera. At doses of 50-500mg/kg/day, the hypoglycemic activity of the extract was enhanced 3-5-fold with the bioenhancer Labrasol, making it comparable to the activity of the anti-diabetic drug metformin. When combined with Labrasol, one of the active compounds, 2', 4'-dihydroxy-4-methoxydihydrochalcone, was at least as effective as metformin at doses of 200-300mg/kg/day. Therefore, bioenhancing agents like Labrasol can be used with multicomponent botanical therapeutics such as PMI-5011 to increase their efficacy and/or to reduce the effective dose.
authors.affiliation: Biotechnology Center for Agriculture and the Environment, Cook College, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, USA. ribnicky@aesop.rutgers.edu
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ribnicky
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kuhn
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poulev
authors.forename: Sithes
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Logendra
authors.forename: Aamir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zuberi
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Cefalu
authors.forename: Ilya
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Raskin
mesh_terms: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D000818:Animals; D019306:Artemisia / Q000737:chemistry*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005989:Glycerides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018520:Plant Shoots / Q000737:chemistry*; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization
chemical_list: D000277:Adjuvants, Pharmaceutic; D001786:Blood Glucose; D005989:Glycerides; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C541449:PMI-5011; D010936:Plant Extracts; C440220:Labrasol