STUDY ON INTESTINAL TRANSPORT OF THE GLYCYRRHIZIC ACID IN THE GANCAOFUZI DECOCTION ACROSS THE CACO-2 CELL MONOLAYER MODEL BY HPLC-ESI-MS METHOD

Objective: To investigate the transport of Glycyrrhizic Acid in Gancaofuzi decoction,which consists of R. glycyrrhizae, A. macrocephalae Rhizoma, Cinnamomum cassia Presl and Radix Aconiti Praeparata, and the interaction of the other compounds in the decoction. Methods: In this study, HPLC-ESI-MS method was developed for the semiquantitative determination of Glycyrrhizic Acid on intestinal transport with Ginsenoside Re as internal standard. And this method was successfully applied to transport studies of Glycyrrhizic Acid and the interaction mechanism of the herbs in Gancaofuzi decoction. Results: The results suggest that A. macrocephalae Rhizoma, Cinnamomum cassia Presl or Radix Aconiti Praeparata could in-crease the intestinal absorption of Glycyrrhizic Acid when mixed with R. glycyrrhizae decoction. And they could reduce the intestinal absorptions of Glycyrrhizic Acid when co-decocted with R. glycyrrhizae (no A. macrocephalae Rhizoma). It might be caused by the different chemical composition between the collaborative decoction and the mixed decoction. And the standard substance of flavonoids could reduce the intestinal absorption of Glycyrrhizic Acid while the standard substance of alkaloids could increase the intestinal absorption. Conclusion: As we know, Chinese medicine is mainly taken orally and absorbed into the body through the small intestine to exert its efficacy. Caco-2 cell monolayer model was used to study the transport of Glycyrrhizic Acid by HPLC-ESI-MS method. And this study provided a new idea of Traditional Chinese Medicine.