Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan
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Spinosin is the major effective single constituent in the traditional Chinese herb Semen Ziziphi Spinosae, which is used for sedation and hypnosis. For the further use of spinosin in treating insomnia, the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of spinosin after intravenous administration to rats was investigated. An HPLC method with an ODS column (250 mm x 4.6 mm, i.d.) and a mobile phase of acetonitrile-water-acetic acid (23:77:1) was used for the determination of spinosin in the plasma and tissues of rats. ⋯ The lowest level of spinosin appeared in the testis, followed by the brain. Spinosin was not detected in smooth and skeletal muscle. After intravenous administration, the drug was distributed extensively and transferred quickly in rats in vivo.