Chrysophanol

Yellow hexagonal or monoclinic needles

Crystalline; dark yellow

less than 1 mg/mL at 64 °F (NTP, 1992)

Practically insoluble in water

Very soluble in benzene, acetic acid

Slightly soluble in cold, freely in boiling alcohol; soluble in benzene, chloroform, ether, glacial acetic acid, acetone, solutions of alkali hydrides, and in hot solutions of alkali carbonates; very slightly soluble in petroleum ether

385 °F (sublimes) (NTP, 1992)

196 °C

200 - 201 °C

Chrysophanic acid appears as golden yellow plates or brown powder. Melting point 196 °C. Slightly soluble in water. Pale yellow aqueous solutions turn red on addition of alkali. Solutions in concentrated sulfuric acid are red. (NTP, 1992)

Solid

Warning

H315 (100%): Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

P261, P264, P264+P265, P271, P280, P302+P352, P304+P340, P305+P351+P338, P319, P321, P332+P317, P337+P317, P362+P364, P403+P233, P405, and P501 (click each P-code to see the statement)

Aggregated GHS information provided per 44 reports by companies from 5 notifications to the ECHA C&L Inventory. Each notification may be associated with multiple companies.

Warning

H315: Causes skin irritation [Warning Skin corrosion/irritation]

EYES: First check the victim for contact lenses and remove if present. Flush victim's eyes with water or normal saline solution for 20 to 30 minutes while simultaneously calling a hospital or poison control center. Do not put any ointments, oils, or medication in the victim's eyes without specific instructions from a physician. IMMEDIATELY transport the victim after flushing eyes to a hospital even if no symptoms (such as redness or irritation) develop.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Avoid breathing dust. Environmental precautions: Do not let product enter drains. Methods and materials for containment and cleaning up: Pick up and arrange disposal without creating dust. Sweep up and shovel. Keep in suitable, closed containers for disposal.

SMALL SPILLS AND LEAKAGE: If you spill this chemical, FIRST REMOVE ALL SOURCES OF IGNITION, then dampen the solid spill material with toluene, then transfer the dampened material to a suitable container. Use absorbent paper dampened with toluene to pick up any remaining material. Your contaminated clothing and absorbent paper should be sealed in a vapor-tight plastic bag for eventual disposal. Solvent-wash all contaminated surfaces with toluene followed by washing with a soap and water solution. Do not reenter the contaminated area until the Safety Officer (or other responsible person) has verified that the area has been properly cleaned.

SRP: Recycle any unused portion of the material for its approved use or return it to the manufacturer or supplier. Ultimate disposal of the chemical must consider: the material's impact on air quality; potential migration in air, soil or water; effects on animal, aquatic and plant life; and conformance with environmental and public health regulations. If it is possible or reasonable use an alternative chemical product with less inherent propensity for occupational harm/injury/toxicity or environmental contamination.

Product: Offer surplus and non-recyclable solutions to a licensed disposal company. Contact a licensed professional waste disposal service to dispose of this material. Contaminated packaging: Dispose of as unused product.

Gloves must be inspected prior to use. Use proper glove removal technique (without touching glove's outer surface) to avoid skin contact with this product. Dispose of contaminated gloves after use in accordance with applicable laws and good laboratory practices. Wash and dry hands.

Avoid contact with skin and eyes. Avoid formation of dust and aerosols. Provide appropriate exhaust ventilation at places where dust is formed.

ACCIDENTAL RELEASE MEASURES: Personal precautions, protective equipment and emergency procedures: Use personal protective equipment. Avoid dust formation. Avoid breathing vapors, mist or gas. Ensure adequate ventilation. Avoid breathing dust. Environmental precautions: Do not let product enter drains.

Handle in accordance with good industrial hygiene and safety practice. Wash hands before breaks and at the end of workday.

SRP: Local exhaust ventilation should be applied wherever there is an incidence of point source emissions or dispersion of regulated contaminants in the work area. Ventilation control of the contaminant as close to its point of generation is both the most economical and safest method to minimize personnel exposure to airborne contaminants. Ensure that the local ventilation moves the contaminant away from the worker.

RECOMMENDED RESPIRATOR: Where the neat test chemical is weighed and diluted, wear a NIOSH-approved half face respirator equipped with an organic vapor/acid gas cartridge (specific for organic vapors, HCl, acid gas and SO2) with a dust/mist filter. (NTP, 1992)

Eye/face protection: Safety glasses with side-shields conforming to EN166. Use equipment for eye protection tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or EN 166(EU).

Skin protection: Handle with gloves.

Body Protection: Impervious clothing. The type of protective equipment must be selected according to the concentration and amount of the dangerous substance at the specific workplace.

Respiratory protection: For nuisance exposures use type P95 (US) or type P1 (EU EN 143) particle respirator. For higher level protection use type OV/AG/P99 (US) or type ABEK-P2 (EU EN 143) respirator cartridges. Use respirators and components tested and approved under appropriate government standards such as NIOSH (US) or CEN (EU).

The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effects of chrysophanol (CH) against paraquat (PQ)-induced pulmonary injury. Fifty BALB/C mice were randomized into five groups: (1) control, (2) PQ, (3) PQ + dexamethasone (Dex, 2 mg/kg), (4) PQ + CH (10 mg/kg), and (5) PQ + CH (20 mg/kg). A single dose of PQ (50 mg/kg, i.p.) was intraperitoneally given to induce acute lung injury. Then mice were treated with CH (10 and 20 mg/kg/day, orally) for 7 days. At the end of the experiment, animals were euthanized and then bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissues were collected for histological observation, biochemical analysis, and Western blot analysis. Malondialdehyde (MDA), myeloperoxidase (MPO), superoxide dismutase (SOD), interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) levels in BALF were determined. The levels of SOD and MDA in the lung were also detected. The peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway proteins in the lung were determined by Western blot. Histological examination indicated that CH attenuated lung inflammation caused by PQ. Biochemical results showed that CH treatment significantly reduced the levels of MDA, MPO, and inflammatory cytokines and increased the level of SOD, compared to those in the PQ group. Meanwhile, Western Blot results revealed that CH increased PPAR-gamma expression and inhibited NF-kappaB pathway activation after PQ challenge. These findings suggested the potential therapeutic effects of CH which is derived from a natural product on PQ-induced pulmonary injury.

The aim of this study is to determine whether AST2017-01 which consists of Rumex crispus and Cordyceps militaris would improve atopic dermatitis (AD). We analyzed anti-AD effects of AST2017-01 and chrysophanol, a bioactive compound of AST2017-01, using a 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene-induced AD murine model. AST2017-01 and chrysophanol relieved clinical severity in AD-like skin lesions and significantly decreased scratching behavior. The thickness of epidermis and infiltration of inflammatory cells in AD-like skin lesions were reduced by AST2017-01 or chrysophanol. AST2017-01 and chrysophanol significantly suppressed the levels of histamine, immunoglobulin E, thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP), interleukin (IL)-4, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-a in serum of AD mice. The protein levels of TSLP, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 were significantly inhibited in the skin lesions. The mRNA expressions of TSLP, thymus and activation-regulated chemokine/CCL17, and C-C chemokine receptor 3 were inhibited in the skin lesions by AST2017-01 or chrysophanol. In addition, AST2017-01 and chrysophanol significantly suppressed the expressions and activities of caspase-1 in the skin lesions. Taken together, these results suggest that AST2017-01 has beneficial effects on AD and may be used as a health functional food in AD.

Nitrosative/oxidative stress plays an important role in neuronal death following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). Chrysophanol (CHR) has been shown to afford significant neuroprotection on ischemic stroke, however, whether its mechanism is related to attenuating nitrosative/oxidative stress is not clear. In the present study, we investigated the effect of CHR on neuronal injury related to nitric oxide (NO) production by using mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model. Our results revealed that nitrite plus nitrate (NOx-) and 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) levels increased in ischemic brain 14 days after reperfusion, and were subsequently attenuated by CHR treatment. Moreover, 3-NT is colocalized with NeuN and TUNEL, suggesting that neuronal apoptosis following I/R is associated with 3-NT and CHR suppresses NO-associated neuronal cell death. Accordingly, cleaved caspase-3 expression in ischemic brain was decreased by CHR treatment. I/R also decreased the activity of total superoxide dismutase (SOD) and manganese-dependent SOD (MnSOD), whilst increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production significantly. Interestingly, CHR reversed this decrease in total SOD, and MnSOD activity, and inhibited ROS generation in the ischemic brain. Taken together, our results provide direct evidence suggesting that CHR attenuates nitrosative/oxidative stress injury induced by I/R, providing a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is one of the most common chronic diseases in male population, of which incidence increases gradually with age. In this study, we investigated the effect of chrysophanic acid (CA) on BPH. BPH was induced by a 4-week injection of testosterone propionate (TP). Four weeks of further injection with vehicle, TP, TP + CA, TP + finasteride was carried on. In the CA treatment group, the prostate weight was reduced and the TP-induced histological changes were restored as the normal control group. CA treatment suppressed the TP-elevated prostate specific antigen (PSA) expression. In addition, 5a-reductase, a crucial factor in BPH development, was suppressed to the normal level close to the control group by CA treatment. The elevated expressions of androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor a and steroid receptor coactivator 1 by TP administration were also inhibited in the CA group when compared to the TP-induced BPH group. Then we evaluated the changes in three major factors of the mitogen-activated protein kinase chain during prostatic hyperplasia; extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun-N-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38). While ERK was elevated in the process of BPH, JNK and p38 was not changed. This up-regulated ERK was also reduced as normal by CA treatment. Further in vitro studies with RWPE-1 cells confirmed TP-induced proliferation and elevated AR, PSA and p-ERK were all reduced by CA treatment. Overall, these results suggest a potential pharmaceutical feature of CA in the treatment of BPH.

For more Interactions (Complete) data for Chrysophanic acid (9 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

TERRESTRIAL FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 1.4X10+4(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that chrysophanic acid is expected to be immobile in soil(SRC). Volatilization of chrysophanic acid from moist soil surfaces is not expected to be an important fate process(SRC) given an estimated Henry's Law constant of 6.0X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(2). Chrysophanic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 3.7X10-10 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC) determined from a fragment constant method(2). After 4-12 weeks 35%-47% CO2 evolution using sandy loan soil in a closed bottle test(3) suggests that biodegradation may be an important environmental fate process under certain conditions in soil(SRC).

AQUATIC FATE: Based on a classification scheme(1), an estimated Koc value of 1.4X10+4(SRC), determined from a structure estimation method(2), indicates that chrysophanic acid is expected to adsorb to suspended solids and sediment(SRC). Volatilization from water surfaces is not expected(3) based upon an estimated Henry's Law constant of 6.0X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC), developed using a fragment constant estimation method(2). According to a classification scheme(4), an estimated BCF of 110(SRC), from an estimated log Kow of 4.5(2) and a regression-derived equation(2), suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is high(SRC). Biodegradation data in water were not available(SRC, 2018).

ATMOSPHERIC FATE: According to a model of gas/particle partitioning of semivolatile organic compounds in the atmosphere(1), chrysophanic acid, which has an estimated vapor pressure of 3.7X10-10 mm Hg at 25 °C(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(2), is expected to exist solely in the particulate phase in the ambient atmosphere. Particulate-phase chrysophanic acid may be removed from the air by wet and dry deposition(SRC). Chrysophanic acid absorbs light at 436 nm(3), in addition anthraquinone compounds, like chrysophanic acid, typically absorb light at wavelengths around 300-350 nm(3) and, therefore, may be susceptible to direct photolysis by sunlight since sunlight consists of wavelengths above 290 nm(SRC).

IDENTIFICATION AND USE: Chrysophanic acid is an anthraquinone compound. It is ingredient of herbal remedies used in traditional medicine. It has been tested as experimental therapy. HUMAN STUDIES: Chrysophanol is an active component of traditional medicine preparations in Korea and China acting as anti-inflammatory agent when tested in vitro on human cells. In addition, chrysophanol exhibits anticancer effects on certain types of cancer cells. Human lung cancer A549 cells and human liver cancer cells treated with chrysophanol exhibited a cellular pattern associated with necrotic cell death and not apoptosis in vitro. Chrysophanol improved lipid metabolism through suppressing the mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins target genes and thus capable to attenuate intracellular lipid accumulation. ANIMAL STUDIES: Chrysophanol, has mild cytotoxic and anti-diabetic properties and could play metabolic roles in the insulin-stimulated glucose transport pathway. No signs of oxidative cell damage were detected when the primary cultures of rat hepatocytes were exposed to chrysophanol. It did, however, cause an immediate increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration. Chrysophanol had no clastogenic activity in the Chinese hamster ovary cells. Chrysophanol was found to be a frame-shift mutagen for Salmonella typhimurium strain TA 1537 after metabolic activation. Chrysophanol was not mutagenic when tested in the comet assay, the micronucleus test and the mutation assay in mouse lymphoma L5178Y tk+/- cells.

The following link will take the user to the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Test Status of Agents Search page, which tabulates the results and current status of tests such as "Short-Term Toxicity Studies", "Long-term Carcinogenicity Studies", "Developmental Studies", "Genetic Toxicology Studies", etc., performed with this chemical. Testing status for chrysophanic acid is available.[Available from, as of February 1, 2019: https://ntpsearch.niehs.nih.gov/?e=True&ContentType=Testing+Status]

EPA has released the Interactive Chemical Safety for Sustainability (iCSS) Dashboard. The iCSS Dashboard provides an interactive tool to explore rapid, automated (or in vitro high-throughput) chemical screening data generated by the Toxicity Forecaster (ToxCast) project and the federal Toxicity Testing in the 21st century (Tox21) collaboration. /The title compound was tested by ToxCast and/or Tox21 assays/[USEPA; ICSS Dashboard Application; Available from, as of February 4, 2019: http://actor.epa.gov/dashboard/]

Using a structure estimation method based on molecular connectivity indices(1), the Koc of chrysophanic acid can be estimated to be 1.4X10+4(SRC). According to a classification scheme(2), this estimated Koc value suggests that chrysophanic acid is expected to be immobile in soil.

Chrysophanic acid is a naturally occurring anthraquinone and has been identified as a constituent in root, seed, and plant tissues of several plant species(1). Chrysophanic acid occurs in the free state as a glucoside in cascara buckthorn, senna and various species of Rumex and Rheum (rhubarb) and has been isolated from the rhubarb root(2).

/ALTERNATIVE and IN VITRO TESTS/ AST2017-01 mainly consists of Rumex crispus and -Cordyceps militaris and has been widely consumed as an herbal medicine or functional food in Korea. Here we investigated the influences of AST2017-01 and its active component, chrysophanol on human mast cell (HMC-1 cell) and human keratinocyte (HaCaT cell)-mediated inflammatory reactions. Pretreatment with AST2017-01 or chrysophanol suppressed intracellular calcium levels and histamine release in phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and calcium ionophore A23187 (PMACI)-treated HMC-1 cells. Levels of phosphorylated-mitogen-activated protein kinase increased by PMACI stimulation were reduced by AST2017-01 or chrysophanol pretreatment. Protein levels of IkappaB kinasebeta and receptor-interacting protein 2 in PMACI-treated HMC-1 cells were decreased by AST2017-01 or chrysophanol pretreatment. Pretreatment with AST2017-01 or chrysophanol significantly blocked PMACI-induced activation of caspase-1 and nuclear factor-kappaB. In addition, pretreatment with AST2017-01 or chrysophanol significantly decreased the PMACI-induced levels of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-a, and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) on HMC-1 cells. In activated HaCaT cells, pretreatment with AST2017-01 or chrysophanol significantly reduced production of TSLP and activation of caspase-1. In conclusion, these findings indicate that chrysophanol is an active component of AST2017-01 and AST2017-01 acts as ... anti-inflammatory herbal medicine or functional food.

/ALTERNATIVE and IN VITRO TESTS/ Chrysophanol is an anthraquinone compound, which exhibits anticancer effects on certain types of cancer cells. However, the effects of chrysophanol on human breast cancer remain to be elucidated. The aim of the present study was to clarify the role of chrysophanol on breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, and to identify the signal transduction pathways regulated by chrysophanol. MTT assay and flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that chrysophanol inhibited cell proliferation, and cell cycle progression in a dose-dependent manner. The expression of cell cycle-associated cyclin D1 and cyclin E were downregulated while p27 expression was upregulated following chrysophanol treatment at the mRNA, and protein levels. The Annexin V/propidium iodide staining assay results revealed that apoptosis levels increased following chrysophanol treatment. Chrysophanol upregulated caspase 3 and poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage in both cell lines. Furthermore, chrysophanol enhanced the effect of paclitaxel on breast cancer cell apoptosis. In addition, chrysophanol downregulated apoptosis regulator Bcl-2 protein, and transcription factor p65 and IkappaB phosphorylation. Inhibition of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB by ammonium pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate diminished the effect of chrysophanol on apoptosis and associated proteins. In conclusion, the results of the current study demonstrated that chrysophanol effectively suppresses breast cancer cell proliferation and facilitates chemosentivity through modulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway.

/ALTERNATIVE and IN VITRO TESTS/ Inactivation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a prime method used in colon cancer therapy. Here it is shown that chrysophanic acid, a natural anthraquinone, has anticancer activity in EGFR-overexpressing SNU-C5 human colon cancer cells. Chrysophanic acid preferentially blocked proliferation in SNU-C5 cells but not in other cell lines (HT7, HT29, KM12C, SW480, HCT116 and SNU-C4) with low levels of EGFR expression. Chrysophanic acid treatment in SNU-C5 cells inhibited EGF-induced phosphorylation of EGFR and suppressed activation of downstream signaling molecules, such as AKT, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/ribosomal protein S6 kinase (p70S6K). Chrysophanic acid (80 and 120 um) significantly blocked cell proliferation when combined with the mTOR inhibitor, rapamycin. These findings offer the first evidence of anticancer activity for chrysophanic acid via EGFR/mTOR mediated signaling transduction pathway.

/ALTERNATIVE and IN VITRO TESTS/ Rhubarb is a traditional Chinese medicine which possesses laxative, lipid-lowering, and weight-loss activities, but the active compounds of lipid-lowering and underlying molecular mechanisms are not yet clear. This study aims to explore the effects of chrysophanol on the mRNA expressions of sterol regulatory element-binding proteins (SREBPs) and lipid metabolism in human liver carcinoma Huh-7 cells, which is one of the active compounds obtained from Rhubarb. A reporter gene assay was used to test the transcription of SREBP. The intracellular triglyceride and total cholesterol contents were measured by using commercially available test kits. The SREBPs target genes expressions were measured by Quantitative Real-Time PCR. Cell viability was evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8. As the results show, chrysophanol (40 umol/L, 16 hr) ... inhibited human SRE promoter activity in a dose-dependent manner and decreased intracellular cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Furthermore, the mRNA expressions of SREBPs target genes were significantly downregulated by chrysophanol treatment. However there are no significant differences on cell viability when compared with the control group. These results suggested that chrysophanol might improve lipid metabolism through suppressing the mRNA expressions of SREBPs target genes to attenuate intracellular lipid accumulation.

For more Human Toxicity Excerpts (Complete) data for Chrysophanic acid (8 total), please visit the HSDB record page.

An estimated BCF of 110 was calculated in fish for chrysophanic acid(SRC), using an estimated log Kow of 4.5(1) and a regression-derived equation(1). According to a classification scheme(2), this BCF suggests the potential for bioconcentration in aquatic organisms is high(SRC).

The Henry's Law constant for chrysophanic acid is estimated as 6.0X10-11 atm-cu m/mole(SRC) developed using a fragment constant estimation method(1). This Henry's Law constant indicates that chrysophanic acid is expected to be essentially nonvolatile from water surfaces(2). Chrysophanic acid is not expected to volatilize from dry soil surfaces(SRC) based upon an estimated vapor pressure of 3.7X10-10 mm Hg(SRC), determined from a fragment constant method(1).

The studies presented here were designed to elucidate the enzymes involved in the biotransformation of naturally occurring 1, 8-dihydroxyanthraquinones and to investigate whether biotransformation of 1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinones may represent a bioactivation pathway. We first studied the metabolism of emodin (1, 3,8-trihydroxy-6-methylanthraquinone), a compound present in pharmaceutical preparations. With rat liver microsomes, the formation of two emodin metabolites, omega-hydroxyemodin and 2-hydroxyemodin, was observed. The rates of formation of omega-hydroxyemodin were not different with microsomes from rats that had been pretreated with inducers for different cytochrome P450 enzymes. Thus, the formation of omega-hydroxyemodin seems to be catalyzed by several cytochrome P450 enzymes at low rates. The formation of 2-hydroxyemodin was increased in liver microsomes from 3-methylcholanthrene-pretreated rats and was inhibited by alpha-naphthoflavone, by an anti-rat cytochrome P450 1A1/2 antibody, and, to a lesser degree, by an anti-rat cytochrome P450 1A1 antibody. These data suggest the involvement of cytochrome P450 1A2 in the formation of this metabolite. However, other cytochrome P450 enzymes also seem to catalyze this reaction. The anthraquinone chrysophanol (1,8-dihydroxy-3-methylanthraquinone) is transformed, in a cytochrome P450-dependent oxidation, to aloe-emodin (1, 8-dihydroxy-3-hydroxymethylanthraquinone) as the major product formed. The mutagenicity of the parent dihydroxyanthraquinones and their metabolites was compared in the in vitro micronucleus test in mouse lymphoma L5178Y cells. 2-Hydroxyemodin induced much higher micronucleus frequencies, compared with emodin. omega-Hydroxyemodin induced lower micronucleus frequencies, compared with emodin. Aloe-emodin induced significantly higher micronucleus frequencies than did chrysophanol. These data indicate that the cytochrome P450-dependent biotransformation of emodin and chrysophanol may represent bioactivation pathways for these compounds.

Chrysophanol, a major anthraquinone component occurring in many traditional Chinese herbs, is accepted as important active component with various pharmacological actions such as antibacterial and anticancer activity. Previous studies demonstrated that exposure to chrysophanol induced cytotoxicity, but the mechanisms of the toxic effects remain unknown. In the present metabolism study, three oxidative metabolites (M1-M3, aloe-emodine, 7-hydroxychrysophanol, and 2-hydroxychrysophanol) and five GSH conjugates (M4-M8) were detected in rat and human liver microsomal incubations of chrysophanol supplemented with GSH, and the formation of the metabolites was NADPH dependent except M4 and M5. M4 and M5 were directly derived from parent compound chrysophanol, M6 arose from M2, and M7 and M8 resulted from the oxidation of M4 and M5. Metabolites M5 and M6 were also observed in bile of rats after exposure to chrysophanol, M1-M3 and one NAC conjugate (M9) were detected in urine of rats administrated chrysophanol, and urinary metabolite M9 originated from the degradation of biliary GSH conjugation M6. Recombinant P450 enzyme incubation and microsome inhibition studies demonstrated that P450 1A2 was the primary enzyme responsible for the metabolic activation of chrysophanol and that P450 2B6 and P450 3A4 also participated in the generation of the oxidative metabolites. ...

A comparative oral pharmacokinetic study of five anthraquinones (aloe-emodin, emodin, rhein, chrysophanol and physcion) from the extract of Rheum palmatum L. was performed in normal and thrombotic focal cerebral ischemia (TFCI)-induced rats. The plasma samples were clarified through solid phase extraction prior to simultaneous determination of the anthraquinones with a validated high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence system. The results indicated that the Cmax, t(1/2) and AUC(0-t), of aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin and chrysophanol in TFCI-induced rats were nearly double, whereas the CL values were remarkably decreased (p < 0.05) over those of the normal rats. The plasma drug concentration-time data of five anthraquinones to rats fitted a two-compartment open model. The five anthraquinones in rat plasma were absorbed quickly and eliminated slowly in both groups. The obtained results could be helpful for evaluating the impact of the efficacy and safety of the drug in clinical applications.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Quyu Qingre granules (QYQRGs) are useful traditional Chinese composite prescription in the treatment of blood stasis syndrome. Comparing differences of pharmacokinetic properties of compounds in QYQRG between normal and blood stasis syndrome rabbits can provide much helpful information. The primary objective of this study was to compare the pharmacokinetics of rhein and chrysophanol after orally administering 2.0 g/kg b.w. QYQRG in normal and acute blood stasis model rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The blood samples were collected subsequently at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 120, 240, 360 and 480 min after orally administrating QYQRG. The concentrations of rhein and chrysophanol in rabbit plasma were determined by HPLC and main pharmacokinetic parameters were obtained. RESULTS: The pharmacokinetic parameters AUC(0-infinity), T(lag), Cmax and K21 of both rhein and chrysophanol were markedly different in the acute blood stasis model rabbits. It was also found that parameters A, beta, MRT and T(1/2beta) of rhein and the parameters a and T1/2a of chrysophanol all exhibited significant difference between the normal and acute blood stasis model rabbits. CONCLUSIONS: The absorption time of rhein and chrysophanol was accelerated and the absorption amount of these two compounds was increased in rabbits with acute blood stasis, suggesting that rhein and chrysophanol would possibly be the two effective compounds in QYQRG.

AIM OF THE STUDY: The present study comparatively investigated the tissue distributions of rhubarb anthraquinone derivatives (AQs) to examine whether they undergo different uptakes in normal or CCl(4)-induced liver-damaged rats, to explore possible reasons for the different toxicities of AQs in pathological model rats and normal rats at the tissue distribution level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The total rhubarb extract (14.49 g/kg of body weight per day based on the quantity of crude material) was administrated orally to normal and model rats for 12 weeks. The concentrations of free AQs in tissues were quantitated by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS). After drug withdrawal for 4 weeks, tissue distributions were again determined. RESULTS: The five free AQs-aloe-emodin, rhein, emodin, chrysophanol and physcion-were detected in the liver, kidney and spleen, while only rhein, aloe-emodin and emodin reached the quantitative limit. The tissue distributions of rhein (p < 0.001), aloe-emodin (p < 0.001) and emodin (p < 0.05) in normal rats were higher than those in model rats with rhein>aloe-emodin>emodin in kidney and spleen tissues and aloe-emodin > rhein > emodin in liver tissues. Free AQs were not detected in the tissues after drug withdrawal for 4 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the tissue toxicity of AQs in normal animals is higher than that in pathological model animals with little accumulative toxicity of rhubarb. The results are concordant with the traditional Chinese theory of You Gu Wu Yun recorded first in Su Wen, a classical Chinese medical treatise.

Laboratory chemicals, manufacture of substances

Herbal remedies (Ingredient)

MEDICATION

Traditional Medicine (ingredient)