Effects of processing method on the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of orally administered ginseng

Abstract

BackgroundThe use of different methods for the processing of ginseng can result in alterations in its medicinal properties and efficacy. White ginseng (WG), frozen ginseng (FG), and red ginseng (RG) are produced using different methods. WG, FG, and RG possess different pharmacological properties.MethodsWG, FG, and RG extracts and pure ginsenosides were administered to rats to study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution characteristics of the following ginsenosides—Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd. The concentrations of the ginsenosides in the plasma and tissues were determined using UPLC-MS/MS.ResultsThe rate and extent of absorption of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd appeared to be affected by the different methods used in processing the ginseng samples. The areas under the plasma drug concentration-time curves (AUCs) of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd were significantly higher than those of the pure ginsenosides. In addition, the AUCs of Rg1, Re, Rb1, and Rd were different for WG, FG, and RG. The amounts of Rg1, Re, Rd, and Rb1 were significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the tissues than those of the pure ginsenosides. The amounts of Re, Rb1, and Rd from the RG extract were significantly higher than those from the WG and FG extracts in the heart, lungs, and kidneys of the rats.ConclusionOur results show that the use of different methods to process ginseng might affect the pharmacokinetics and oral bioavailability of ginseng as well as the tissue concentrations of Rg1, Re, Rd, and Rb1.

Simultaneous determination of baicalin, baicalein, wogonoside, wogonin, scutellarin, berberine, coptisine, ginsenoside Rb1 and ginsenoside Re of Banxia xiexin decoction in rat plasma by LC–MS/MS and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

“…Ginsenoside Rb1 was found to have only a single peak at about 6 h in the mean plasma concentration–time profile, which was in agreement with previously reported results (Chen et al, ; Kim, ; Wang et al, ). These previous studies have proved the poor bioavailability of ginsenosides after oral administration.…”

Pharmacological potential of ginseng and its major component ginsenosides

“…Ginsenosides Rg1, Re, and Rh1 and R1 saponins show better bioavailability than ginsenosides Ra3, Rb1, Rd, Rg3, and Rh2 saponins. In humans, the half-lives (T1/2) of saponins are usually less than 24 hours [ [24] , [25] , [26] ]. Possible drug interactions have been reported between P. ginseng and warfarin, phenelzine, and alcohol.…”

Panax Ginseng C.A.Mey. as Medicine: The Potential Use of Panax Ginseng C.A.Mey. as a Remedy for Kidney Protection from a Pharmacological Perspective

“…Furthermore, oral bioavailability has been reported to affect the efficacy of some drugs. It has been demonstrated that the majority of ginsenosides had low oral bioavailability, which limits their long-term efficacy and stability (Kim et al, 2014;Biswas et al, 2017;Chen et al, 2018;Jin et al, 2018). Some scholars tend to explain the factors that lead to low oral bioavailability of ginsenosides, which large molecular weight (Han et al, 2006), low water-solubility (Liu et al, 2009), poor gastrointestinal stability of ginsenosides (Artursson et al, 1993), and intestinal or hepatic first-pass effect, then leading to low oral bioavailability (Yanni, 2007).…”