Comparative study on pharmacokinetics of extract from Bufonis venenum and its liposomes

Bufadienolides and indolealkylamines, the primary active components in Bufonis venenum, have rapid clearance from the body with a short half-life, leading to low bioavailability. Moreover, Bufadienolides and indolealkylamines are associated with serious adverse effects. In order to reduce the toxicities, minimize the adverse effects and simultaneously load lipophilic bufadienolides and hydrophilic indolealkylamines with satisfactory drug loading and encapsulation rate, we prepared Bufonis venenum extract-liposomes (BVE-LP). To compare the pharmacokinetic differences between Bufonis venenum extract (BVE) and its liposomes, ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) assay was established to simultaneously detect the 12 chemical components in rat plasma. Results of pharmacokinetic study in SD rats showed that the highest exposure based on the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC0-t) was obtained by 5-hydroxytryptamine with a mean value of 267.097 μg/L*h in BVE-LP group, which was 72.36 % higher as compared to that obtained in Bufonis venenum extract (BVE) group with a mean value of AUC0-t of 154.966 μg/L*h. The exposure (AUC0-t) of desacetylcinobufotalin, desacetylcinobufagin, arenobufagin and telocinobufagin in BVE-LP group was 111.89 %, 94.13 %, 134.08 %, and 92.94 % higher when compared to that in BVE group. With the employment of liposomes, there was an obvious decrease in the clearance of bufotenidine, desacetylcinobufotalin, gamabufotalin, arenobufagin, and telocinobufagin. The terminal half life (t1/2) of desacetylcinobufotalin, gamabufotalin, arenobufagin, and telocinobufagin in BVE-LP group was increased by 185.96 %, 292.64 %, 196.78 % and 131.29 % when compared to that in BVE group. All the results above indicated that a slower elimination rate and more exposure of some bufadienolides and indolealkylamines was obtained by BVE-LP when compared to BVE group, which verified BVE-LP could provide a therapeutic option for effective delivery of Bufonis venenum in clinical. The data will be shared on reasonable request to the corresponding author. •A simultaneously assay for twelve active components in plasma sample was established.•Pharmacokinetic study between Bufonis venenum extract (BVE) and BVE liposome (BVE-LP).•BVE-LP improve PK behaviors of active components in BVE, would bring better effects.