Pharmacokinetics and Tissue Distribution Study of Gambogic Acid and Gambogic Acid Nanosuspension in Mice by UHPLC-MS/MS

The objectives of this study were to investigate the tissue biodistribution and pharmacokinetic properties of gambogic acid nanosuspension (GA-NS) with that of gambogic acid solution (GA-S) after intravenously administration to mice. A simple and rapid UHPLC method for determination of GA-NS presented in plasma and tissue has been developed and validated. The method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution study of GA-NS in mice. The results of the pharmacokinetic research demonstrated that the AUC(0 similar to infinity) values of GA-NS were 4.73 times greater than GA-S. It could clearly be seen that the nanosuspension reservoir was formed in circulation, released slowly drug and prolong circulation time in vivo. The tissue distribution studies revealed that GA-NS markedly improved the concentrations of GA in liver and reduced the concentrations in heart and had more significant liver targeting characteristics compared with GA-S.