Planta Med 2013; 79(17): 1666-1673 DOI: 10.1055/s-0033-1350959
Pharmacokinetic Investigations
Original Papers
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York
Differences in Pharmacokinetics and Anti-inflammatory Effects between
Decoction and Maceration of Sanhuang Xiexin Tang in Rats and
Mice
Qian Zhang
1
The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The
SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese
Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
2
Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines,
Shanghai, China
,
Yue-ming Ma
3
Laboratory of Pharmacokinetics, Shanghai University of Traditional
Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
,
Zheng-tao Wang
1
The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The
SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese
Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
2
Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines,
Shanghai, China
,
Chang-hong Wang
1
The MOE Key Laboratory for Standardization of Chinese Medicines and The
SATCM Key Laboratory for New Resources and Quality Evaluation of Chinese
Medicines, Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shanghai University of
Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
2
Shanghai R&D Centre for Standardization of Chinese Medicines,
Shanghai, China
The pharmacokinetics and anti-inflammatory effects of Sanhuang Xiexin Tang,
composed of Rhei Radix et Rhizoma, Scutellariae Radix, and Coptidis Rhizoma,
prepared by decoction and maceration, were investigated and compared. Rats
were orally administered with the decoction and maceration of Sanhuang
Xiexin Tang at 30 g/kg. The concentrations of 10 active constituents
(berberine, palmatine, jatrorrhizine, coptisine, wogonin, baicalin,
wogonoside, emodin, aloe-emodin, and rhein) in plasma were determined by
UPLC-MS/MS. Mice were orally administered decoctions and macerations of
Sanhuang Xiexin Tang continuously for 7 days at three doses and stimulated
with lipopolysaccharide. The plasma concentrations of IL-10 and TNF-α
were determined by ELISA. Different preparation methods resulted in
significant differences in the pharmacokinetic characteristics of the SXT
constituents, especially the protoberberine alkaloids. Maceration decreased
the absorption of flavones while promoting the absorption of anthraquinones.
Bioavailability of both flavones and anthraquinones increased after
administration of macerated Sanhuang Xiexin Tang, especially those of
baicalin and rhein, which increased by 3.27 and 7.10 times. Results of ELISA
indicated that both the decoction and maceration of Sanhuang Xiexin Tang
could significantly increase IL-10 production (p < 0.01) as well as
decrease TNF-α production (p < 0.01). Macerated Sanhuang Xiexin
Tang has a slightly higher anti-inflammatory effect than the Sanhuang Xiexin
Tang decoction. Different preparation methods affected the pharmacokinetic
characteristics and anti-inflammatory effects of Sanhuang Xiexin Tangʼs
active constituents.
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