PHARMACOKINETICS OF A CHINESE TRADITIONAL MEDICINE, DANSHENSU (3,4-DIHYDROXYPHENYLLACTIC ACID), IN RABBITS USING HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

An injectable solution of Danshen was prepared and its in vivo disposi tion was examined in rabbits. The presence of Danshensu, one of the ac tive components of Danshen, in the obtained solution was confirmed by a simple high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method. The ph armacokinetics of Danshensu in rabbits was evaluated by the HPLC metho d for plasma Danshensu. The calibration curve for Danshensu was linear (r = 0.998) over the concentration range of 0.25-40.0 mu g/ml. The in tra-assay coefficients of variation (CVS) were 3.8, 3.1, and 3.1% at 1 , 10, and 50 mu g/ml, respectively, and the inter-assay CVs were 5.3, 5.3, and 2.9% at 1, 10, and 50 mu g/ml, respectively. The analytical r ecovery of Danshensu in plasma averaged 95.2%. From the plasma concent ration profile of Danshensu after its intravenous administration, the t(1/2), mean residence time (MRT), V-dss, and Cl-tot were determined a s 32 min, 48 min, 149 ml/kg, and 3.13 ml/min/kg, respectively.