title: The involvement of P-glycoprotein in berberine absorption.
abstract: Berberine is an important ingredient in a number of traditional Chinese medicines but has been shown to have poor bioavailability in the dog. The aim of this study was to use the P-glycoprotein (P-glycoprotein) inhibitors cyclosporin A, verapamil and the monoclonal antibody C219 in in vivo and in vitro models of intestinal absorption to determine the role of P-glycoprotein in berberine absorption. In the rat recirculating perfusion model, berberine absorption was improved 6-times by P-glycoprotein inhibitors. In the rat everted intestinal sac model, berberine serosal-to-mucosal transport was significantly decreased by cyclosporin A. In Ussing-type chambers, the rate of serosal-to-mucosal transport across rat ileum was 3-times greater than in the reverse direction and was significantly decreased by cyclosporin A. In Caco-2 cells, berberine uptake was significantly increased by P-glycoprotein inhibitors and by monoclonal antibody C219. P-glycoprotein appears to contribute to the poor intestinal absorption of berberine which suggests P-glycoprotein inhibitors could be of therapeutic value by improving its bioavailability.
authors.affiliation: Center of Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China. panguoyu@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Guo-yu
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.forename: Guang-Ji
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xiao-Dong
authors.initials: XD
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: J Paul
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Fawcett
authors.forename: Yuan-Yuan
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D018938:Caco-2 Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D020168:ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1; D001599:Berberine; D016572:Cyclosporine; D014700:Verapamil