Metabolites and the pharmacokinetics of kobophenol A from Caragana sinica in rats

This research aims to study the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of phytoestrogen kobophenol A (1), the main active compound of Caragana sinica (Buc'hoz) Rehd. (Fabaceae), in rats. Metabolites of 1 in rats' feces were isolated and purified by multi-chromatograph techniques; three new metabolites of 1, named koboquinone A (M1), koboquinone B (M2) and koboquinone C (M3), were isolated, purified from rats' feces after they being orally administered with 1. Structure identification of the metabolites was fulfilled by spectroscopic analysis. M1 and M2 are structurally different to those natural occurring stilbene tetramers, which also have para-quinone structure. M1 also showed the activity of stimulating the proliferation of cultured osteoblasts. The pharmacokinetics of 1 in rats could be described by a two-compartmental model (P < 0.05). The half-life was 0.68 h for i.v. administration and 5.78 h for oral administration. The oral bioavailability of 1 was calculated to be 2.0%; rats tissue distribution experiments show that 1 was prominently concentrated in livers. Both of the low oral bioavailability and the rapid reduction of 1 in blood indicated a suitable formulation is needed while it is developed as a new drug.