Effects of extracts of commonly consumed food supplements and food fractions on the permeability of drugs across Caco-2 cell monolayers.
OBJECTIVE
Extracts made from berries, herbs, and various plant materials, which might possess a range of activities, are used as health promoting products. Because little is known about their effects on the absorption of co-administered drugs, the effects of some food supplements, Finnish berries, and herbs were studied on the permeability of some commonly used drugs.


METHODS
The permeabilities of verapamil, metoprolol, ketoprofen, paracetamol, and furosemide were studied across Caco-2 cell monolayers with contemporaneously administered extracts from flax seed, purple loosestrife, and Scots pine bark; bilberries, cowberries, and raspberries; oregano, rosemary, and sage. Toxicological tests were conducted to determine cellular damage.


RESULTS
The effects of extracts on drug permeabilities were generally minor. Flax seed decreased the permeability of all drugs except verapamil. Purple loosestrife and pine decreased verapamil and metoprolol permeability. Changes caused by berries were mainly pH-related. Rosemary and oregano enhanced furosemide permeability.


CONCLUSIONS
Ingestion of extracts of herbs and berries studied are not expected to markedly change the permeabilities of highly permeable drugs. Harmful effects at sites of or during absorption are unlikely. However, if high doses of extracts are administered with low permeable drugs in vitro, effects on drug permeabilities could not be excluded. Use of such extracts should therefore be evaluated during continuous medication.
Laitinen
Leena A
LA
Viikki Drug Discovery Technology Center (DDTC), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland.
Tammela
Päivi S M
PS
Galkin
Anna
A
Vuorela
Heikki J
HJ
Marvola
Martti L A
ML
Vuorela
Pia M
PM
D001693:Biological Transport, Active; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D005502:Food / Q000633:toxicity; D005638:Fruit / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations / Q000378:metabolism; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000633:toxicity; D012997:Solvents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts / Q000633:toxicity; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000633:toxicity
D004364:Pharmaceutical Preparations; D010636:Phenols; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012997:Solvents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C022616:thiazolyl blue