Pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion study of resveratrol and its prodrug 3,5,4′-tri-O-acetylresveratrol in rats

3,5,4′-Tri-O-acetylresveratrol (TARES) synthesized by acetylating three hydroxyl groups of resveratrol (RES) is a prodrug of RES. The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the pharmacokinetics, tissue distribution and excretion of TARES and RES in rats following a single intragastric gavage (i.g.) administration. After RES is transformed into TARES, its pharmacokinetic properties are improved, such as the t1/2 has been prolonged and the AUC has been enhanced. And TARES follows linear plasma pharmacokinetics across the investigated dosage range in rats (77.5–310 mg/kg). The major distribution tissues of TARES or RES in rats were liver, spleen, heart and lung. TARES can increase the content of RES in lung significantly. There was no long-term accumulation of RES in rat tissues. Whether we administrated to rats of equimolar TARES or RES, total recoveries of RES in urine and feces within 36 h were low (0.99% or 0.07% in urine and 1.69% or 0.15% in feces).