Pharmacokinetic comparisons of hydroxysafflower yellow A in normal and blood stasis syndrome rats

Ethnopharmacological relevance

Safflower is a popular Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to invigorate the blood and dispel ‘blood stasis’, which arises from poor blood circulation. The differences of pharmacokinetic properties between normal and blood stasis syndrome rats were seldom reported.

Aim of the study

The present study was conducted to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of hydroxysafflower yellow A (HSYA) following oral administration of hydroxysafflower yellow A and safflower extract with approximately the same dose of HSYA 100 mg/kg in both normal and acute blood stasis rats.

Materials and methods

The animals were orally administered with HYSA monomer and safflower extract. The blood samples were collected according to the time schedule. The concentrations of HSYA in rat plasma were determined by HPLC. Various pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated from the plasma concentration versus time data using non-compartmental methods.

Results

It was found that AUC_0–t, C_max, Vd and CL of HSYA in both HSYA monomer and safflower extract in acute blood stasis rats were with significant difference (P < 0.05) comparing with that in normal rats.

Conclusions

The results indicated that HSYA was with high uptake and eliminated slowly in the animals with blood stasis syndrome, suggesting that the rate and extent of drug metabolism was altered in acute blood stasis animals.