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Absorption, Distribution and Elimination of Carnosic Acid, A Natural Antioxidant from Rosmarinus officinalis, in Rats

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Abstract

The absorption, distribution and elimination of carnosic acid, the main antioxidant found in rosemary was studied, in vivo, in rats. Therefore, carnosic acid was administrated in a single dose, intravenously (20.5 ± 4.2 mg/kg) and orally (64.3 ± 5.8 mg/kg), to four and nine rats, respectively. Blood samples were collected at different time points, and plasma concentrations of carnosic acid were determined using LC-MS. Furthermore, total collection of urine and feces was done during 4 h and 24 h for the intravenous and oral administrations, respectively. After euthanizing the rats, intestinal content, liver and muscle tissue were sampled to determine carnosic acid concentrations. The bioavailability of carnosic acid, after 360 min, was 40.1%. Traces of carnosic acid were found in the rats intestinal content, liver and muscle tissue of abdomen and legs. The recovery of carnosic acid in the feces, 24 h after oral administration, was 15.6 ± 8.2%. Carnosic acid is absorbed into the bloodstream after oral administration in rats and is therefore bioavailable. It was found that carnosic acid in vivo is present in its free form and that its main elimination route is the fecal route.

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Abbreviations

AUC:

area under the curve

CA:

carnosic acid

F:

bioavailability

IV:

intravenous

PO:

oral

RA:

rosmarinic acid

RE:

rosemary extract

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Acknowledgements

EHAD is grateful for the financial support offered by BOF Ghent University.

P. Joye and J. Vermeiren (UGent) are thanked for the technical assistance in the rat experiments. P. Zwaenepoel is thanked for technical assistance during LC-MS analyses.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Proefhoevestraat 10, 9090, Melle, Belgium

    Evelyne H. A. Doolaege & Stefaan De Smet

  2. Research Group EnBiChem, Department of Industrial Engineering and Technology, University College West-Flanders, Graaf Karel de Goedelaan 5, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium

    Katleen Raes

  3. Laboratory of Radiopharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ghent University, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Filip De Vos

  4. Department of Sustainable Organic Chemistry and Technology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Roland Verhé

Authors
  1. Evelyne H. A. Doolaege
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  2. Katleen Raes
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  3. Filip De Vos
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  4. Roland Verhé
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  5. Stefaan De Smet
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Correspondence to Stefaan De Smet.

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Doolaege, E.H.A., Raes, K., De Vos, F. et al. Absorption, Distribution and Elimination of Carnosic Acid, A Natural Antioxidant from Rosmarinus officinalis, in Rats. Plant Foods Hum Nutr 66, 196–202 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0233-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11130-011-0233-5

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