| Abstract: | The objective of this study was to investigate the absorption behavior of chikusetsusaponin IVa (CHS‐IVa) in the rat intestine using single‐pass intestinal perfusion (SPIP) and to classify CHS‐IVa into the biopharmaceutics classification system (BCS). The equilibrium solubility of CHS‐IVa was determined by the shaker method. The absorption mechanism of CHS‐IVa in the intestine was studied by comparing the Peff of different concentrations of CHS‐IVa. The intestinal site dependence of CHS‐IVa absorption was studied by comparing the Peff of the same concentration of CHS‐IVa in different intestinal segments. The relationship between CHS‐IVa and intestinal efflux protein was studied by perfusion with an efflux protein inhibitor. The permeability of CHS‐IVa was investigated by comparing the Peff of CHS‐IVa and the reported value. The solubility of CHS‐IVa over the pH range 1.0–7.5 was 14.4 ± 0.29 to 16.9 ± 0.34 mg/ml. The Peff of CHS‐IVa in the duodenum was 1.76 × 10?3 to 2.00 × 10?3 cm/min. The Peff of CHS‐IVa in the jejunum was 1.26 × 10?3 to 1.39 × 10?3 cm/min. The Peff of CHS‐IVa in the ileum was 1.25 × 10?3 to 1.31 × 10?3 cm/min. The Peff of CHS‐IVa in the colon was 1.02 × 10?3 to 1.08 × 10?3 cm/min. There was no statistical difference of the Peff in the four segments at different CHS‐IVa concentrations. The Peff of CHS‐IVa (0.07, 0.7 and 7.0 mg/ml) were all notably smaller than the reported Peff (3.00 × 10?3 cm/min) in the jejunum. The Peff of CHS‐IVa was not influenced by verapamil (P‐gp inhibitor), indomethacin (MRP inhibitor) and pantoprazole (BCRP inhibitor). CHS‐IVa was classified as high solubility, low permeability and BCS III. The main absorptive tracts were the upper intestinal tracts and the rank order of intestinal permeability was duodenum > jejunum ≈ ileum > colon. The transport mechanism of CHS‐IVa in all intestinal segments might be primarily passive transport. CHS‐IVa was not a substrate of P‐gp, MRP and BCRP. |
