Intestinal absorption of berberine alone and in combinations by rats single pass intestinal perfusion in situ

The aim of the study is to investigate the effects of concentration, intestinal segments, pH, inhibitors of proteins (P-gp), Na⁺-dependent glucose transporter (SGLT1) on the intestinal absorption of berberine, and to compare intestinal absorption of berberine in combinations.  With phenol red as the indicator, in situ single pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) model was used and intestinal absorption of pure berberine at concentrations of 36.70, 46.17 and 92.33 μg·mL⁻¹, simulated system of HLJDT (mixture of berberine, baicalin and geniposide), HLJDT with the concentration of berberine 92.33 μg·mL^{−1 in perfusion solution of different intestinal segments (duodenum, jejunum, ileum, and colon) were determined by HPLC in combination with diode array detection} (DAD).  The results indicated that K_a values of berberine at different concentrations had little significant difference among that obtained after perfusing via duodenum, jejunum, ileum and colon indicating that the absorption of berberine was mainly the passive diffusion.  It was also suggested that SGLT1 and P-gp might exert some effects on the absorption of berberine.  K_a and P_eff values of berberine in a mixture of pure compounds and HLJDT for different intestine segments of rat showed an increasing tendency and was significantly different   (P < 0.05) indicating that berberine in a mixture of pure compounds and HLJDT was assimilated better in small intestine.  These results indicate that the intestinal absorption of berberine may be affected by compatibility of compounds.  Additionally, berberine has wide absorption window and better absorption in colon.