Pharmacokinetics of (−)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate in Conscious and Freely Moving Rats and Its Brain Regional Distribution

A liquid chromatography technique coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) electrospray ionization was used to measure (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) in rat plasma. This method was applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics of EGCG in a conscious and freely moving rat by an automated blood sampling device. Multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) was used to monitor the transition of the deprotonated molecule m/z of 457 [M − H]- to the product ion 169 for EGCG and the m/z of 187 to 164 for the internal standard. The limit of quantification (LOQ) of EGCG in rat plasma was determined to be 5 ng/mL, and the linear range was 5−5000 ng/mL. The protein binding of EGCG in rat plasma was 92.4 ± 2.5%. The brain distribution result indicated that EGCG may potentially penetrate through the blood−brain barrier at a lower rate. The disposition of EGCG in the rat blood was fitted well by the two-compartmental model after intravenous administration (10 mg/kg, iv). The elimination half-life of EGCG was 62 ± 11 and 48 ± 13 min for intravenous (10 mg/kg) and oral (100 mg/kg) administration, respectively. The pharmacokinetic data indicate that the oral bioavailability of EGCG in a conscious and freely moving rat was about 4.95%. Keywords: Camellia sinensis; catechin; (−)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate; freely moving rat; pharmacokinetics; tandem mass spectrometry