title: Intestinal transport of pure diester-type alkaloids from an aconite extract across the Caco-2 cell monolayer model.
abstract: Aconitine (AC), mesaconitine (MA), and hypaconitine (HA) are the active alkaloids identified in aconite tuber, an important traditional Chinese medicine. The study is aimed to investigate their intestinal transport profiles and potential interaction during the intestinal absorption using the Caco-2 cell monolayer model. All three alkaloids had good permeability with  P(app) values greater than 1 × 10 (-6) cm · s (-1). However, AC, MA, and HA in a mixture and as an extract, in both cases with the same content of alkaloids, showed higher transport efficiency in the apical to basolateral, and lower transport efficiency in the basolateral to apical directions. Digoxin, as a P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrate, was substantially effluxed in the basolateral to apical direction but inhibited by the three alkaloids. Furthermore, the backwards transport of MA and HA was inhibited by the P-gp inhibitor verapamil. These observations indicated that the three alkaloids may not only be P-gp inhibitors but also its substrates; they interact with each other and can potentially enhance their own bioavailability when taken concomitantly.
authors.affiliation: College of Pharmacy, Jilin University, 1266 Fujin Road, Changchun, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: Zhigang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sui
authors.forename: Jingwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Zhiqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhongying
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000157:Aconitine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000494:pharmacology; D031841:Aconitum / Q000737:chemistry*; D001682:Biological Availability; D001692:Biological Transport / Q000187:drug effects; D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D004077:Digoxin / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D007408:Intestinal Absorption / Q000187:drug effects; D008517:Phytotherapy; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; C058309:hypaconitine; C019470:mesaconitine; D004077:Digoxin; D014700:Verapamil; D000157:Aconitine