Objective    To evaluate the body tissue distribution and liver targeting efficiency of silymarin carried by enteric coated poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) nanoparticles in rats. Methods      High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)  was established and used to determinate silymarin concentration in plasma and tissue samples. The rats were randomized into 3 groups based on the treatment: enteric coated silymarin-PLGA nanoparticles

silymarin-PLGA nanoparticles and silymarin dispersible tablets (control). DAS 3.0 was used to calculate the area under the curve (AUC). Relative targeting efficiency (RTE) and liver targeting efficiency (TE) were used to evaluate liver targeting distribution of each agent.   Results     Comparing with silymarin dispersible tablets

the RTE value in the plasma and tissues was greater than 1 and the liver RTE value was greater than 10 after administrated with enteric coated and non-coated silymarin-PLGA nanoparticles. In both groups treated with silymarin-PLGA nanoparticles

the liver TE value was greater than 1.5 then compared with the TE values of plasma and other tissues. Conclusion      Oral administration of enteric coated silymarin-PLGA nanoparticles improves the absorption and tissue distribution of silymarin in rats

exerting a better liver targeting efficiency