title: Pharmacokinetic analysis and tissue distribution of andrographolide in rat by a validated LC-MS/MS method.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Nees (Acanthaceae) is widely used in tribal medicine in India and some other countries for multiple clinical applications. It contains andrographolide (AG) (diterpenoid lactone), a major phytomarker which probably accounts for its medicinal properties.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study investigates the site-specific distribution of AG in different tissues of rats and its pharmacokinetic parameter evaluation by using a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method.
  
  
  METHODS
  A simple and sensitive LC-MS/MS method has been developed and validated to quantify the presence of AG in plasma and various tissues of rat following oral administration of A. paniculata extract and AG in a dose of 133.33 and 100 mg/kg/day, respectively, for four weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The present study showed that the highest concentration of AG was in kidney (156.12 ng/g) followed by liver, spleen and brain while almost same concentration was found in heart and lung. The apparent C(max), T(max), elimination half-life and total exposure (AUC(0-α)) were 115.81 ng/ml, 0.75, 2.45 and 278.44 ngh/ml, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This was an attempt to determine the presence of AG (a known biomarker) in tissues such as kidney, heart, lungs, brain and plasma of rats using a validated LC-MS/MS method. Furthermore, the observed reduced concentration in plasma and various tissues from 1 to 8 h might be attributed to relatively rapid elimination or distribution of AG from the central compartment.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University , Kolkata, West Bengal , India , and.
authors.forename: Rammohan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bera
authors.forename: S K Milan
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Lipi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.forename: Tuhinadri
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: Sanmoy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karmakar
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D035685:Andrographis / Q000737:chemistry*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D002853:Chromatography, Liquid / Q000379:methods*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006207:Half-Life; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008519:Medicine, Traditional; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D053719:Tandem Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods*; D013997:Time Factors; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D004224:Diterpenes; C030419:andrographolide