Pharmacokinetics of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone after oral administration of Radix aucklandiae extract in normal and gastric ulcer rats

Abstract

Costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone are the main active ingredients of Radix Aucklandiae (RA). An accurate and sensitive LC-MS/MS method was established to simultaneously determine contents of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone in plasma. There were significant differences in pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC_0-t, C_max,1, C_max,2, T_max,1, Vd, and CL) of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone between RA group and costunolide group or dehydrocostuslactone group. The relative bioavailability of costunolide or dehydrocostuslactone of RA extract was improved. As compared to normal group, the T_max,2 values of dehydrocostuslactone of RA in gastric ulcer group were prolonged, while the C_max,1, C_max,2, and AUC_0-t values decreased.

Keywords: extract; LC-MS/MS; Pharmacokinetics; costunolide; dehydrocostuslactone; gastric ulcer rats.