[Absorption mechanism of icariin across Caco-2 monolayer model].
OBJECTIVE
To study the absorption mechanism of icariin by using Caco-2 monolayer model.


METHODS
Caco-2 cell monolayer model was used to study the bi-direction transport of icariin. The effects of time, drug concentration and inhibitor on the absorption of icariin were studied. The concentration of icariin in cell culture medium was measured by UPLC and the apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) was calculated.


RESULTS
The amount of icariin which was transported increased linearly with the time (14 hr). The ratio of PBA/PAB was larger than 4. Verapamil, the P-glycoprotein inhibitor, could cause significantly effect on transport of icariin, PAB increased, the ratio of PBA/PAB decreased.


CONCLUSIONS
The reason for low absorption of icariin in Caco-2 cell model may be the secretion of the P-gp transporter.
Chen
Yan
Y
Jiangsu Provincial Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Modern Chinese Pharmaceutical Preparation, Nanjing 210028, China. ychen202@yahoo.com.cn
Jia
Xiao-Bin
XB
Hu
Ming
M
Ding
An-Wei
AW
D000042:Absorption; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological
D005419:Flavonoids; C056599:icariin