Comparative pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of schisandrin, deoxyschisandrin and schisandrin B in rats after combining acupuncture and herb medicine (schisandra chinensis).
Recently, combination therapy with acupuncture and medicine as a practical strategy to treat diseases has gained increasing attention. The present study aimed to investigate whether acupuncture stimulation at ST.36 had a potential impact on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of lignans. An HPLC-ESI/MS analytical method was established and successfully applied to a comparative study of drug concentration in plasma and tissues of three lignans. The parameters area under the plasma concentration-time curve from time zero to the final measurable point and from time zero to infinity, and peak concentration were significantly increased, with a prolonged mean residence time and a corresponding decrease in clearance in comparision with the Schisandra-alone group. Additionally, tissue concentrations of three lignans were improved in the group with acupuncture, especially in liver. The results indicated that acupuncture has a synergistic effect on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of the three lignans, which could postpone their elimination, resulting in a longer blood circulating time in rat plasma and prolonged residence time in target tissues, leading to higher tissue concentration. The findings provide some scientific evidence for the mechanism of the combined use of acupuncture and herbal medicine. Furthermore, we suggest that acupuncture and its combination with herbal medicine should be investigated further as a possible adjuvant therapy in clinical treatment for liver injury.
College of Pharmaceutical Science, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, People's Republic of China.
Xiaoyan
X
Wu
Yuan
Y
Zhou
Fangzhou
F
Yin
Guoliang
G
Dai
Lin
L
Li
Bin
B
Xu
De
D
Ji
Yong
Y
Sun
Chunqin
C
Mao
Tulin
T
Lu
D015670:Acupuncture Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D034242:Cyclooctanes / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D017705:Lignans / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D016014:Linear Models; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000737:chemistry / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D051381:Rats; D032141:Schisandra; D021241:Spectrometry, Mass, Electrospray Ionization; D014018:Tissue Distribution
D034242:Cyclooctanes; D017705:Lignans; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; C015499:schizandrin B; C034734:schizandrin A; C011105:schizandrin
Schisandra chinensis; acupuncture-medicine combination; lignans; pharmacokinetics; tissue distribution