AUTHOR=Cheng Wenhao , Wu Siyang , Yuan Zheng , Hu Weiyu , Yu Xin , Kang Nianxin , Wang Qiutao , Zhu Mingying , Xia Kexin , Yang Wei , Kang Chen , Zhang Shuofeng , Li Yingfei TITLE=Pharmacokinetics, Tissue Distribution, and Excretion Characteristics of a Radix Polygoni Multiflori Extract in Rats JOURNAL=Frontiers in Pharmacology VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2022 YEAR=2022 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/pharmacology/articles/10.3389/fphar.2022.827668 DOI=10.3389/fphar.2022.827668 ISSN=1663-9812 ABSTRACT=Despite the progress in pharmacological activity and toxicity of Radix Polygoni Multiflori (RPM), the material basis of its toxicity is still unclear. Here we aimed to perform a multi-compound pharmacokinetic analysis and investigate the characteristics of tissue distribution and excretion of RPM components after oral administration to rats. The findings demonstrated that the active ingredients of RPM extract were quickly absorbed after oral administration, wherein the exposures of emodin, 2,3,5,4'-teterahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-D-glucoside (TSG), citreorosein, torachrysone-8-O-glucoside (TG), emodin-8-O-β-D-glucoside (EG), and physcion-8-O-β-D-glucoside (PG) were high in the body. The tissue distribution of emodin, TSG, TG, EG, and PG were high in the liver and kidney. These components were the key contributors of the effectivity and toxicity of RPM on the liver and kidney. Most of the active ingredients were mainly excreted through fecal and bile excretion, while a few were converted into other products in the body and excreted through urine and feces.