Ipriflavone pharmacokinetics in mutant Nagase analbuminemic rats

Ipriflavone, a derivative of naturally occurring isoflavones, was primarily metabolized in rats via hepatic CYP1A1/2 and 2C11. Protein and mRNA expression of CYP1A2 in the liver, reported to be increased in mutant Nagase analbuminemic rats (NARs), should influence the pharmacokinetic parameters of ipriflavone. In this study, the contribution of hepatic CYP2C11 and intestinal CYP1A protein to the metabolism and the pharmacokinetic parameters of ipriflavone were examined after intravenous (20 mg/kg) and oral (200 mg/kg) administration to male Sprague-Dawley (control) rats and NARs. There was no change in the protein expression of hepatic CYP2C11. By contrast, CYP1A protein of the intestine increased by almost 100%. After the intravenous administration of ipriflavone to NARs, the Cl(nr) and AUC were unchanged, suggesting that the contribution of the increase in protein expression and mRNA level of hepatic CYP1A2 to hepatic metabolism of the drug in NARs seemed to be almost negligible. However, after the oral administration of ipriflavone to NARs, the AUC was significantly lower than that in the control rats (53.0% decrease), possibly due to the increased intestinal CYP1A that resulted in increased intestinal metabolism and decreased gastrointestinal absorption of ipriflavone in NARs.