Metabolism and pharmacokinetics of 3,3',4',7-tetrahydroxyflavone (fisetin), 5-hydroxyflavone, and 7-hydroxyflavone and antihemolysis effects of fisetin and its serum metabolites

J Agric Food Chem. 2009 Jan 14;57(1):83-9. doi: 10.1021/jf802378q.

Abstract

3,3',4',7-Tetrahydroxyflavone (fisetin) has shown various beneficial bioactivities. This study investigated the metabolism and pharmacokinetics of fisetin, 5-hydroxyflavone (5-OH-flavone), and 7-hydroxyflavone (7-OH-flavone) in male Sprague-Dawley rats. Blood was withdrawn via cardiopuncture and assayed by HPLC before and after hydrolysis with sulfatase and beta-glucuronidase. The results indicated that after intravenous administration of fisetin (10 mg/kg of bw), fisetin declined rapidly and fisetin sulfates/glucuronides emerged instantaneously. When fisetin (50 mg/kg of bw) was given orally, fisetin parent form was transiently present in serum only during the absorption phase, whereas fisetin sulfates/glucuronides predominated. The serum metabolites of fisetin showed less potent inhibition on 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane hydrochloride) (AAPH)-induced hemolysis than fisetin. Following oral administrations of 40 mg/kg of bw of 5-OH-flavone and 7-OH-flavone, the glucuronide of 5-OH-flavone and the sulfate/glucuronide of 7-OH-flavone were found in serum, whereas no traces of parent forms were detected. In conclusion, fisetin and 7-OH-flavone were rapidly and extensively biotransformed into their sulfate/glucuronide, whereas 5-OH-flavone was exclusively metabolized to glucuronide.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Flavonoids / blood
  • Flavonoids / metabolism
  • Flavonoids / pharmacokinetics*
  • Flavonoids / pharmacology
  • Flavonols
  • Glucuronides / blood
  • Hemolysis / drug effects*
  • Male
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Sulfates / blood

Substances

  • Flavonoids
  • Flavonols
  • Glucuronides
  • Sulfates
  • 5-hydroxyflavone
  • fisetin
  • 7-hydroxyflavone