Pharmacokinetic characteristics of hydroxysafflor yellow A in normal and diabetic cardiomyopathy mice

Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA), a major active water‐soluble component in Carthamus tinctorius L., is considered a potential antioxidant with protective effects against myocardial injury. However, its pharmacokinetic characteristics in normal and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) mice remain unknown. This study was designed to investigate the differences in the pharmacokinetics of HSYA between normal and streptozotocin‐induced DCM mice. HSYA in the mouse plasma was quantified using LC–MS/MS. Compared with the normal group, the DCM group showed a significantly higher area under the curve (AUC(0–t), AUC(0–∞)) value and peak plasma concentration, suggesting a higher uptake of HSYA in the DCM mice, and a significantly lower plasma clearance and apparent volume of distribution, suggesting slower elimination of HSYA in the DCM mice. The levels of serum superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly higher, and malondialdehyde content was significantly lower in DCM mice than in normal mice, indicating the antioxidative stress effect of HSYA. Furthermore, the correlation analysis revealed that the serum HSYA content in the DCM mice significantly positively correlated with antioxidant enzyme levels. These results showed that the pharmacokinetics of HSYA changed significantly in the DCM mice, and this may improve the antioxidative stress effect of the drug.