Pharmacokinetics of 2 epimers of glycyrrhizic acid in rats

Objective To determine the pharmacokinetic parameters of 2 epimers of glycyrrhizic acid (GL) after oral administration of α-GL and β-GL in rats.Methods α-GL and β-GL solvent were administered orally at a dose of 25 mg·kg-1.The concentration in the plasma was measured by HPLC method.Experimental data and the pharmacokinetic parameters were processed with the computer program DAS 2.0 and SPSS.Results The main pharmacokinetic parameters were:AUC0-36=(57.04±14.64)μg·mL-1·h;Cmax= (4.68±2.56)μg·mL-1 t1/2=(5.56±1.65)h,tmax=(10.0±4.0)h after oral administration of α-GL;AUC0-36=(36.55±13.18)μg·mL-1·h;Cmax=(4.24±1.69)μg·mL-1,t1/2=(7.88±2.40)h,tmax=(9.0±1.1)h respectively after oral administration of β-GL.Conclusion The main pharmacokinetic parameters of GA after the oral administration of α-GL and β-GL are different.