title: Effects of Evodia rutaecarpa and rutaecarpine on the pharmacokinetics of caffeine in rats.
abstract: To assess possible herb-drug interactions, rutaecarpine (an herbal ingredient of Evodia rutaecarpa; 25 mg/kg/day, p. o.), the ethanol extract of Evodia rutaecarpa (1 g/kg/day, p. o.), and an herbal preparation of Evodia rutaecarpa (Wu-Chu-Yu-Tang; 1 g/kg/day) were individually pretreated daily for three consecutive days in rats and on the fourth day caffeine was administered (2 mg/kg, i. v.). Caffeine concentrations in blood, brain and bile were concurrently measured by microdialysis coupled to a liquid chromatographic system. Pharmacokinetic data were calculated by a non-compartmental model. The results indicate that the caffeine crosses the blood-brain barrier and goes through hepatobiliary excretion. The caffeine level was significantly decreased by the pretreatment of rutaecarpine, the extract of Evodia rutaecarpa and herbal preparation Wu-Chu-Yu-Tang. This finding should be very important whenever herb-drug interactions would be possible for a herbal remedy.
authors.affiliation: National Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan. thtsai@ym.edu.tw
authors.forename: Tung-Hu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: Chun-Hao
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Lie-Chwen
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000470:Alkaloids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D019540:Area Under Curve; D001646:Bile / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D032086:Evodia; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology; D011799:Quinazolines; D011804:Quinolines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013047:Specific Pathogen-Free Organisms; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052999:Quinazolinones
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002110:Caffeine; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal; D026121:Indole Alkaloids; D010936:Plant Extracts; D011799:Quinazolines; D011804:Quinolines; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C406544:Gosyuyu; C028632:rutecarpine; D052999:Quinazolinones