Pharmacokinetic study and metabolite identification of the bidesmosidic triterpenoid saponin BTS-1 in rat plasma

摘要

Assays based on high-performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)and liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry(LC–MSn)have been developed and validated for the determination and metabolite identification of the bidesmosidic triterpenoid saponin,BTS-1(3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1-2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1-3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranosyl gypsogenin 28-O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-3)-βD-xylopyranosyl-(1-4)-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-2)-β-D-fucopyranoside),in rat plasma.The assay was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study in rats given a single oral dose of BTS-1(400 mg/kg).The results indicated that the compound was rapidly absorbed(Tmax=1.2870.29 h,Cmax=37.475.6 mg/mL)and slowly eliminated(t1/2=13.276.6 h).In addition,secondary glycosides and aglycones of BTS-1 were detected and identified.Since these metabolites are known to be activeα-glucosidase inhibitors,they probably play an important role in mediating the pharmacological effects of the saponin.