Pharmacokinetics studies of traditional Chinese medicine are increasingly showing its importance and necessity. In this study, we aim to determine the pharmacokinetics of oral administration of 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside (SBGC) from Polygonum multiflorum or P. multiflorum extracting in Beagle dogs. Beagle dogs were fed with SBGC (2.0, 1.5 and 1.0 g/kg body weight) or P. multiflorum extracts (2.5 g/kg body weight) by oral gavage. We then examined pharmacokinetic parameters, including the area under the plasma concentration-time curve, maximum plasma concentration, time to maximum plasma concentration, half-life of absorption, half-life of distribution, half-life of elimination, and average drug retention time in the blood. The basic pharmacokinetic characteristics were similar between these two situations. When Beagle dogs were fed with P. multiflorum extracts, SBGC was absorbed and distributed faster, but the elimination speed remained at the same level. The current findings provide a clear guidance for the clinical application of P. multiflorum. Key words: Pharmacokinetics, beagle dogs, Polygonum multiflorum, 2,3,5,4'-tetrahydroxystilbene-2-O-β-d-glucoside.
