Pharmacokinetic Parameters and Tissular Biodistribution of 1,3 β-Glucans from Maitake Pro4x in Balbc Mice

Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the pharmacokinetic parameters of 1,3-beta-glucans from Maitake Pro4X in BALBc mice through oral and Intra Venous (IV) administration. The objectives were to determine the following parameters: Tmax, Cmax, t1/2, ta1/2, Ke, Ka, Clearance, Vd, Cp0, and AUC. Additionally, the tissue distribution of 1,3-beta-glucans after oral and IV administration of Maitake Pro4X was examined to identify the organs involved in absorption, elimination, and distribution. The results comparison indicated that certain elimination constants were similar in both administration routes (ke3 IV and ke2 oral). Both routes showed a Tmax of 10 hours. The elimination t1/2 was comparable for both routes (12.93 hours for oral and 12.81 hours for IV). Total systemic clearance values were also similar. However, the IV route exhibited a higher volume of distribution but lower AUC Cp vs. time. The findings suggest that the gastrointestinal organs (stomach, duodenum, and colon) exhibited the highest levels of uptake for both administration routes. Conversely, the liver and kidney showed the lowest uptake for both routes. Comparatively, oral administration resulted in greater gastrointestinal accumulation, while cerebral, pulmonary, renal, and hepatic uptakes were higher after intravenous administration. The in vivo pharmacokinetic studies in murine models led to the conclusion that oral and intravenous administration had similar values for elimination rate, Maximum plasma concentration Time (Tmax), Half-Life (T1/2), total systemic clearance, and bioavailability. Both routes exhibited a Cmax peak and a high volume of distribution, indicating low binding to plasma proteins. Biodistribution studies in murine models revealed greater uptake of the compound in the gastrointestinal tract after both oral and IV administration, with gastric uptake being predominant, along with significant uptake in the duodenum and colon (in the order of millions of pg.h/ml). The presence of β-glucans in the brain suggests the ability of Maitake to cross the blood-brain barrier. The lower relative uptake observed in the hepatorenal region indicates a slower rate of inactivation and excretion of the compound, as evidenced by an extended circulation time in the body after a single administration.