Abstract:Objective: To investigate stability of harpagoside in biological fluids in vitro and analyze its constituents absorbed in rat serum after oral administration. Method: Harpagoside was dissolved in artificial gastric juice,intestinal juice and gastrointestinal contents of rats,the corresponding pH solution,respectively;then thermostatically maintained at 37℃.HPLC was used to calculate the remaining rate of harpagoside in biological samples by measuring the content of harpagoside at time intervals after degradation.Constituents absorbed in rat serum were detected by LC-MS after oral administration. Result: Harpagoside was relatively stable in artificial intestinal juice and intestinal contents of rats,its degradation rates were less than 10%;however,it could be degraded in diluted acid,artificial gastric juice and gastric contents of rats,its degradation rates were less than 15%.Harpagoside,cinnamic acid and harpagide were detected in rat serum after oral administration of harpagoside. Conclusion: Harpagoside is relatively stable in artificial gastric juice,intestinal juice as well as gastrointestinal contents of rats,and a few of it in the acidic environment can be broken into cinnamic acid and dehydration product of harpagide aglycone.Harpagoside is mainly absorbed by prototype in rat serum after oral administration,and it can be metabolized to cinnamic acid and harpagide in vivo.