Pharmacokinetic Interaction Between Puerarin and Edaravone, and Effect of Borneol on the Brain Distribution Kinetics of Puerarin in Rats

Objectives: The aim was to investigate the pharmacokinetic interaction between puerarin and edaravone, and the effect of borneol on the brain distribution kinetics of puerarin in rats.

Methods: A reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography method was developed and validated for the simultaneous determination of puerarin and edaravone in rat plasma. The detection method was successfully applied to compare the pharmacokinetic interaction and brain distribution kinetics of puerarin and edaravone using in-situ microdialysis sampling in rats after intravenous administration and co-administration with a single dose.

Key Findings: The method gave good linearity and no endogenous material interfered with the two target compounds and internal standard peaks. The limit of detection of puerarin and edaravone was 0.03 and 0.05 microg/ml, respectively. The average recovery of the two compounds from rat plasma was >94%. The precision of the test was determined to be within 10%. The combination of puerarin and edaravone reduced drug elimination rates, gave a wider distribution, and the disposition of both drugs in rats was optimized. The distribution of puerarin in brain tissues was significantly increased and its elimination was noticeably slower with borneol pretreatment.

Conclusions: The results provide important information for the improved combined use of puerarin and edaravone with borneol pretreatment in clinical practice.