Difference in absorption of the two structurally similar flavonoid glycosides, hyperoside and isoquercitrin, in rats

The present study was to investigate oral absorption of the two similar flavonoid glycosides, isoquercitrin (IQ, quercetin-3-O-glucoside) and hyperoside (HP, quercetin-3-O-galactoside) in rats. Two groups of male SD rats received an oral dose of either IQ (4.5 mg/kg) or HP (6.0 mg/kg). Blood samples were collected via jugular vein at time intervals after drug administration and the plasma concentrations of the studied compounds were analyzed by HPLC. The stability of IQ and HP in the GI tract was also measured by incubation with various GI contents from rats. The results showed that unchanged IQ was barely detectable whereas the glucuronidated quercetin (the aglycone of IQ) was found to be the major form in plasma after oral administration of IQ. In contrast, HP could not be detected in plasma neither as unchanged form nor its aglycone or conjugated aglycone form. Additional in vitro stability studies demonstrated that HP is more stable than IQ in the GI tract. This suggests that IQ could be hydrolyzed easier than HP to its aglycone in GI tract before being absorbed. In conclusion, IQ, as a flavonoid glucoside, could be rapidly absorbed and transformed into glucuronidated quercetin and such absorption might be related to the hydrolysis of the type of sugar moieties attached to its aglycone molecule.