Assessment of systemic interaction between Swertia chirata extract and its Bioactive constituents in rabbits.

The plant Swertia chirata (Gentianaceae) is known for its multifarious medicinal value in the Indian system of medicine (Ayurveda). Its methanol extracts having antidiabetic activity contains mangiferin, amarogentin, amaroswerin, sweroside and swertiamarin as active constituents. The pharmacokinetics of mangiferin and amarogentin have been carried out after intravenous administration of pure standards and extract from S. chirata (CT) in rabbits to assess systemic interaction. The remaining three components were also monitored in plasma for pharmacokinetic estimation based on the ratio analysis method. Mangiferin was characterized by a relative low clearance ( approximately 0.14 L/h/kg) and a lesser volume of distribution ( approximately 0.15 L/kg), while amarogentin exhibited a rapid clearance ( approximately 2.62 L/h/kg) and wide distribution ( approximately 1.08 L/kg) from the systemic circulation. No significant difference was observed in pharmacokinetic parameters of mangiferin and amarogentin either administered alone or as CT formulation in rabbits. Copyright 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.