LC–MS/MS determination and interaction of the main components from the traditional Chinese drug pair Danshen–Sanqi based on rat intestinal absorption

Abstract

The Chinese drug pair Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza)-Sanqi (Panax ginseng) has been widely used for centuries treating various cardiovascular disorders, among which salvianlic acid B (SAB), ginsenoside Rg (GRg ), ginsenoside Rb (GRb ) and notoginsenoside R (NGR ) were identified as the major components. The present study focused on the interaction between these components based on investigating their intestinal absorption using the Ussing chamber technique. The concentrations of SAB, GRg , GRb1 and NGR in the intestinal perfusate were determined by LC-MS/MS method, followed by Q (accumulative quantity) and P (apparent permeability). The results showed that all these four main components displayed very low permeabilities, which implied their poor absorption in the rat intestine. The intestinal absorption level of SAB displayed regioselectivity: duodenum < jejunum < ileum. However, there was no significant difference in the absorption of GRg and GRb in the different segments. The Q and P values of the four main components were obviously increased in jejunum when co-administrating Danshen extract with Sanqi extract. In conclusion, compatibility of Danshen and Sanqi could remarkably improve the intestinal absorption level of the main components in the pair. To some extent, this might explain the nature of the compatibility mechanisms of composite formulae in TCMs.

Interactions Between Emodin and Efflux Transporters on Rat Enterocyte by a Validated Ussing Chamber Technique

“…Ginsenoside Rg 1 and emodin were purchased from the National Institutes for Food and Drug Control (Beijing, China). Krebs’ Ringer bicarbonate (KRB) buffer is composed by 114 mM NaCl, 10 mM Glucose, 1.25 mM CaCl 2 ⋅2H 2 O, 1.1 mM MgCl 2 ⋅6H 2 O, 5.03 mM KCl, 0.30 mM NaH 2 PO 4 ⋅H 2 O,1.65 mM Na 2 HPO 4 , and 25 mM NaHCO 3 of pH 6.5 ( Huang et al, 2016 ). Solvents were of HPLC grade and other chemicals used were of analytical grade.…”

“…The Q (accumulative quantity), P app (apparent permeability), E r (efflux ratio), P r ( P app ratio), and E rr ( E r ratio) across the excited rat intestinal segments in the Ussing chamber were calculated using the following equations ( Li et al, 2012 ; Huang et al, 2016 ):…”

Advances and challenges in ginseng research from 2011 to 2020: the phytochemistry, quality control, metabolism, and biosynthesis

“…LC-MS is preferably employed to measure the plasma concentrations of ginsenosides, 371–374 and further investigate the mechanism of drug interactions. The reported mechanisms mainly involve the mediation of the absorption of ginseng in vivo , 371,375–378 the modulation of gut microbiota composition, 379–381 and the high affinity for drug transporters and cells, 379,382 the induction or inhibition of the CYP450 enzyme activities, 383 as well as the occurrence of DDI by measuring the PK parameters (such as C max , AUC, t max , and t 1/2 ) of ginseng drugs in vivo . 372–374,384,385…”

“…To some extent, this explains the essence of the compatibility mechanism of TCM compound prescription. 380…”

Salvia miltiorrhizaRoots against Cardiovascular Disease: Consideration of Herb-Drug Interactions

“…The coadministration of Danshen and Sanqi significantly improved intestinal absorption (2-fold) of the bioactive component salvianolic acid B in rats compared to administration of Danshen alone, suggesting synergistic effect of these two herbs [80]. However, another rat study reported oral administration of Fufang Danshen preparation or salvianolic acid B extract alone or in the presence of Sanqi, Borneol, and tanshinones extract had the same salvianolic acid B pharmacokinetics.…”