Study on ingredients of Scutellaria Radix extract penetrable through placental barrier of pregnant rat / 中国中药杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study ingredients penetrable through placental barrier by administering pregnant rats with Scutellaria Radix extract using HPLC-MS.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rats in early, middle and late pregnancy were intragastrically administered with Scutellaria Radix extract for 5 days. Maternal plasma and embryonic tissues were obtained at 1.5, 12 h after the final administration of Scutellaria Radix extract to determine ingredients of biological specimens.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Under the optimum experimental conditions, seven compounds were detected in all pregnant rat plasma, specifically including baicalin, wogonoside, baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A. The seven compounds were also discovered in embryonic tissues of rats in early pregnancy, including the five detected compounds. But they were not detected in embryonic tissues of rats in middle pregnancy, and six compounds except baicalein were detected embryonic tissues of rats in late pregnancy.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Ingredients contained in Scutellaria Radix are detected in pregnant rats at different stages, except those in middle pregnancy, indicating a potential in utero exposure in case of oral administration of Scutellaria Radix pregnancy. Therefore, a study of embryotoxicity shall be continued to evaluate the safety of Scutellaria Radix extract.</p>