Table 1.

Overview of the study design and methods.

Study Name	SD Rats	ICR Mice	Remarks
Pharmacokinetics of compound K (n = 4)	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Blood sampling: 0.17–48 h Feces collection for 48 h Urine collection for 48 h	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Blood sampling: 0.17–48 h Feces collection for 48 h Urine collection for 48 h	Comparison between rats and mice PK parameters of compound K Fecal and urine recovery of compound K and PPD
Tissue distribution of compound K (n = 4)	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Blood and tissue collection: 0.17–24 h Liver, kidney, brain, heart, lung, spleen, testis	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Blood and tissue collection: 0.17–24 h Liver, kidney, brain, heart, lung, spleen, testis	Comparison between rats and mice Tissue to plasma AUC ratios of compound K
Inhibition of hepatic uptake of compound K (n = 3)	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Rifampin pretreatment PO 20 mg/kg Blood and liver collection at 0.5 and 2 h	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Rifampin pretreatment PO 20 mg/kg Blood and liver collection at 0.5 and 2 h	Comparison between groups with/without rifampin pretreatment Tissue to plasma concentration ratios of compound K
Biliary excretion of compound K (n = 4)	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Blood sampling: 0.25–8 h Bile collection: for 12 h		PK parameters of compound K Biliary excretion of compound K
Metabolism of compound K (n = 4)	Compound K IV 2 mg/kg Bile collection for 0-2 h and 2–12 h Intestinal feces collection at 2 and 12 h		PPD quantification in plasma, bile, and intestinal feces samples

IV, intravenous injection; PO, per oral administration, PPD, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol; PK parameters, pharmacokinetic parameters; AUC, area under plasma concentration.