Abstract: A method for the detection of curcumin in pig plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) was established firstly and the pharmacokinetics of curcumin solid dispersion and curcumin premix in piglets were studied. Sixteen healthy piglets (Yorkshire×Changbai), seven-week aged, half male and half female, were randomly divided into two groups receiving curcumin solid dispersant and curcumin premix orally at the dose of 100 mg·kg^-1, respectively. Then plasma samples were collected at different time points, and the blood concentration of curcumin was determined by HPLC-MS/MS. The WinNonlin 5.2.1 software was used to analyze and calculate the pharmacokinetic parameters. The pharmacokinetic parameters of curcumin solid dispersion and curcumin premix were as follows: the area under the curve (AUC) was (104.53±38.67) and (37.82±11.48) h·ng·mL^-1, time to peak concentration (T_max) was (3.25±0.38) and (2.31±0.37) h, peak concentration (C_max) was (26.65±9.65) and (9.55±2.75) ng·mL^-1, respectively, elimination half-life time (t_1/2β) was (3.55±2.17) and (6.93±0.86) h, mean residence time (MRT) was (5.23±0.53) and (4.26±0.47) h. The statistical analysis showed significant differentce (P<0.01) between curcumin solid dispersion and premix in parameters, the T_max of curcumin solid dispersion was delayed significantly, the C_max was increased obviously and the AUC was improved after the piglets were given curcumin solid dispersion. Compared with curcumin premix, the relative bioavailability of curcumin solid dispersion was 280.39%. The results showed that curcumin solid dispersion could improve the dissolution and absorption of curcumin in the intestinal tract and improve the relative bioavailability of curcumin, which provided a scientific basis for the development and clinical application of curcumin solid dispersions in the future.

Key words: curcumin, solid dispersion, pharmacokinetic, weaning piglets