Pharmacokinetics of Arctigenin in Fructus Arctii Extract in Piglets

[Objectives]This study was conducted to investigate the pharmacokinetic characteristics of arctigenin from water extract of Fructus Arctii in piglets,understand its absorption,distribution,transformation and excretion in piglets,and provide theoretical reference for the development and clinical use of new veterinary drugs.[Methods]Six healthy piglets,weighing(30.0±5.0)kg,were selected and administered by gavage with a Fructus Arctii water extract at 1.0 g/kg·bw.Blood was collected from the anterior vena cava at different time points.The concentration of arctigenin in pig plasma was determined by HPLC.The main pharmacokinetic parameters were:absorption half-life(t1/2 ka)(0.098±0.006)h,distribution half-life(t1/2α)(0.208±0.009)h,elimination half-life(t1/2β)(23.816±2.151)h,apparent volume of distribution(Vd)(32.212±4.033)L/kg,apparent volume of distribution(Vd)(32.212±4.033)L/kg,clearance(CLb)(2.384±1.589)L/(h·kg),peak time(tmax)(0.251±0.011)h,peak concentration(Cmax)(0.560±0.063)μg/ml,and the area under the curve(AUC)at the time of drug administration(9.620±0.752)μg·h/ml.[Results]After oral administration of the water extract powder of Fructus Arctii,arctigenin showed a two-compartment model with absorption in piglets,with the characteristics of fast absorption,wide distribution and slow elimination.Arctigenin might have a hepatoenteral circulation in piglets,and the drug effect could last for a long time.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis and reference for the development and clinical use of new veterinary drugs.

Avian Influenza A(H7N9) Virus in a Wild Land Bird in Central China,Late 2015

Dear Editor,In early 2013,the first case of a human infection with avian influenza A(H7N9)virus was reported in the Yangtze River Delta region of China(Liu et al.2013).Since early2013,a total of 1533 laboratory-confirmed human infections with avian H7N9 viruses have been reported to