title: Effect of baicalin and berberine on transport of nimodipine on primary-cultured, rat brain microvascular endothelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether baicalin and berberine affects the transport of nimodipine (NMD) across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary-cultured, rat brain microvascular endothelial cells (rBMEC) were used as an in vitro model of the BBB. When cells became confluent, the steady-state uptake of NMD by rBMEC with or without baicalin and berberine was measured. The effects of baicalin and berberine on the efflux of NMD from rBMEC were also studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Baicalin (2-5 microg/mL) increased the uptake of NMD, and baicalin (10-20 microg/mL) decreased the uptake. The steady-state uptake of NMD was higher than that of control group in the presence of 0.01-1 microg/mL berberine, but was lower in the presence of 2-10 microg/mL berberine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The bidirectional effect of baicalin and berberine on the uptake of NMD by rBMEC was found. Higher concentration showed an inhibitory effect, and lower concentration demonstrated an increasing effect.
authors: Center of Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, China.
authors: Dong-mei
authors: DM
authors: Zhang
authors: Hai-yan
authors: HY
authors: Liu
authors: Lin
authors: L
authors: Xie
authors: Xiao-dong
authors: XD
authors: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001599:Berberine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000378:metabolism*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009553:Nimodipine / Q000378:metabolism*; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D005419:Flavonoids; D020011:Protective Agents; D001599:Berberine; C038044:baicalin; D009553:Nimodipine