Pharmacokinetics of the Couple of Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata and Cinnamomum Cassia in Rats with Osteoporosis with Kidney-yang Deficiency by UPLC and Microdialysis Method

Abstract

Background: To confirm the metabolites of the Aconite and Cinnamon herb couple in rat, and characterize its pharmacokinetics.Methods: Microdialysis probes were inserted into the jugular vein and knee joint of Sprague Dawley rat, and dialysates of different administration groups were collected. Target analytes were separated on a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography column (ACQUITY UPLC BEH C8 2.1×100 mm, 1.7 μm) and analyzed with an ultra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) under multiple reaction monitoring modes.Results: The experiment shows that the concentrations of quality of the three metabolites in mixing extraction of the herb couple were 0.3701% for trans-cinnamic acid, 0.1249 % for mesaconitine, and 0.0469 % for hypoaconitine, and Cinnamon group was 0.1731 % for trans-cinnamic acid, Aconite group were 0.0017 % for mesaconitine, and 0.0300 % for hypoaconitine. The concentrations of quality of the metabolites in rat plasma of the herb couple group were 0.0028% for trans-cinnamic acid, 0.0947% for mesaconitine, and 0.1124% for hypoaconitine. And the concentrations of quality of Aconite group and Cinnamon group were 0.0019% for trans-cinnamic acid, 0.0307% for mesaconitine, and 0.0220% for hypoaconitine. Pharmacokinetic results showed that the mean half-lives of the microdialysis samples of blood of Cinnamon group was 492.18 min for trans-cinnamic acid, and Aconite group were 102.48 min for mesaconitine and 93.27 min for hypoaconitine, and the herb couple ware 181.36 min for trans-cinnamic acid, 103.9 min for mesaconitine and 116.01 min for hypoaconitine, and the microdialysis samples of joint of Cinnamon group was 190.85 min for trans-cinnamic acid, and Aconite group were 48.51 min for mesaconitine and 46.01 min for hypoaconitine, and the herb couple was 131.19 min for trans-cinnamic acid, 49.36 min for mesaconitine and 146.68 min for hypoaconitine.Conclusions: The mixed extraction of aconite and cinnamon can promote the dissolution of the active ingredients. The herb couple can promote the absorption of the active ingredients, improve the distribution of the active ingredients in the joint and blood, prolong the half-lives of the active ingredients. It shows that the compatibility of aconite and cinnamon can increase the bioavailability of the drug and improve the clinical efficacy.