Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion study of a furostanol glycoside-based standardized fenugreek seed extract in rats

Abstract

The furostanol glycoside isolated from the seed of fenugreek (SFSE-G) has an array of pharmacological activities. To date, no validated high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method has been reported for quantification of SFSE-G in biological samples. Hence, the aim of the present study was to study the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion profiles of SFSE-G after oral administration in rats. A rapid, sensitive, selective, robust and reproducible HPLC method has been developed for determination of SFSE-G in the rat biological samples. The chromatographic separation was accomplished on a reversed-phase C18 column using formic acid and acetonitrile (80:20) as mobile phase at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min and 274 nm as a detection wavelength. The assay was linear for SFSE-G with the correlation coefficients (R²) >0.996. The analytes were stable during samples storage and handling, and no matrix effects were observed. After oral dosing of SFSE-G at a dose of 200 mg/kg, the elimination half-life was app. 40.10 h. It showed relatively slowly distribution and eliminated in urine and feces after 24 h, and could be detected until 108 h post-dosing. Following oral single dose (200 mg/kg), SFSE-G was detected in lung and brain which indicated that it could cross the blood–brain barrier. It is a major route of elimination is excretion through urine and feces. In conclusion, oral administration of SFSE-G showed slow distribution to tissues, such as lung and brain, but showed fast renal elimination.

• Furostanol glycoside fraction of Trigonella foenum-graecum
• pharmacokinetics
• tissue distribution
• elimination
• HPLC
• solid–liquid extraction

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge Dr. S.S. Kadam, Vice-Chancellor and Dr. K.R. Mahadik, Principal, Poona College of Pharmacy, Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University, Pune for providing necessary facilities to carry out the study.

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this article. The study was supported by Indus Biotech Private Limited, Pune India but not been involved in the collection, analysis or interpretation of the data; or writing the report.

Supplementary material available online

Supplementary Conflict of Interest.