Comparative Pharmacokinetic Study of Four Active Ingredients in Normal and MCAO Rats after Oral Administration of Gastrodia elata Ultrafine Powder

Gastrodia data, a medicinal herb in China, has mainly been used in the treatment of cerebral ischemic diseases. Moreover, G. data ultrafine powder (GEUP) significantly ameliorates cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury compared with that of its common powder. The aim of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of four active ingredients in GEUP in a rat model of middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) compared to those in normal rats following orally administration of a GEUP suspension at a single dose of 3.6 g/kg. Plasma samples were collected at 14 different time points, and their contents were determined by UPLC-MS/MS. Subsequently, pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated and their differences were compared in normal and MCAO rats. The results showed that compared with that of the normal group, the AUC(0-t) of gastrodin was significantly reduced, while the MRT0-t was prolonged in MCAO rats. For parishin E, the MCAO rats had a higher AUC(0-t) and longer MRT0-t. Finally, while there was no significant difference in the AUCO-t of parishin B or parishin C between the normal and MCAO groups, the t(1/2) and MRT0-t were significantly prolonged in the MCAO group. Therefore, MCAO pathological conditions may alter the pharmacokinetic behavior of GEUP.