Pharmacokinetics of seven major components in Aβ1-42-treated rats after oral administration of an aqueous extract of Curculiginis Rhizoma and Epimedii Folium

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the main cause of dementia. Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation plays a crucial role in the development of AD. Curculiginis Rhizoma and Epimedii Folium, frequently used in combination for their synergistic effects, have shown promise for cognitive improvement and anti-inflammatory properties in previous studies. This study, for the first time, investigates the pharmacokinetic profile of seven key compounds in the aqueous extract of Curculiginis Rhizoma and Epimedii Folium (CREF) in both normal and Aβ_1-42-treated rats. A validated high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem triple quadrupole mass (HPLC–QQQ-MS) method was used to simultaneously quantify curculigoside, orcinol glucoside, icariin, epimedin B/C, baohuoside I, and magnoflorine in rat plasma. Results revealed significant increases in AUC_0-∞ and C_max values for curculigoside, orcinol glucoside, epimedin B, icariin, and magnoflorine in Aβ_1-42-treated rats compared to normal rats, accompanied by decreased plasma clearance (CL). These findings suggest that the pathological condition induced by Aβ_1-42 significantly affects the pharmacokinetic characteristics of components in CREF, potentially leading to increased bioavailability in a cognitive impairment model. This discovery provides a novel perspective for exploring the mechanism of CREF’s therapeutic effects on cognitive impairment.