Transport mechanisms of a glycoside, p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-glucopyranoside, across rat small intestinal brush-border membranes

Characteristics of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin transport across pig intestinal brush border membranes

BACKGROUND/AIMS

(+)-Catechin and (-)-epicatechin are considered as disease preventive flavan-3-ols of foods like fruits, beverages and chocolate. We investigated mechanisms and kinetics of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin uptake employing a validated in vitro model with isolated pig brush border membrane vesicles.

METHODS

Vesicles were isolated from pig small intestine employing the divalent cation method. Characterization (marker enzymes, electron microscopy) confirmed their purity and function. Transport studies with (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin under predefined conditions [presence/absence of sodium, pH gradient, temperature (8-37 degrees C), various initial substrate concentrations (2-20 mmol/l)] revealed a measurable transport (HPLC analyses) across the brush border membrane for both substrates.

RESULTS

Catechin transport was stimulated by an outwardly directed H(+) gradient (pH(i) 5.5/pH(o) 7.5). The presence of an inwardly directed Na(+) gradient did not result in a transient overshoot in (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin uptake. At 37 degrees C, subtraction of diffusion from the total transport rate showed saturation kinetics.

CONCLUSION

Our in vitro study indicate that both (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin are transported across the basolateral membrane using a dual transport system consisting of free diffusion (dominant at low concentrations) and carrier-mediated facilitated diffusion.

Strategies to improve oral drug bioavailability

Efforts to improve oral drug bioavailability have grown in parallel with the pharmaceutical industry. As the number and chemical diversity of drugs has increased, new strategies have been required to develop orally active therapeutics. The past two decades have been characterised by an increased understanding of the causes of low bioavailability and a great deal of innovation in oral drug delivery technologies, marked by an unprecedented growth of the drug delivery industry. The advent of biotechnology and consequent proliferation of biopharmaceuticals have brought new challenges to the drug delivery field. In spite of the difficulties associated with developing oral forms of this type of therapeutics, significant progress has been made in the past few years, with some oral proteins, peptides and other macromolecules currently advancing through clinical trials. This article reviews the approaches that have been successfully applied to improve oral drug bioavailability, primarily, prodrug strategies, lead optimisation through medicinal chemistry and formulation design. Specific strategies to improve the oral bioavailability of biopharmaceuticals are also discussed.

Inhibitory Effects of Basic Drugs on the Sodium-Dependent Transport of L-Alanine via System B0 in the Small Intestine

To elucidate the mechanism of the interaction of basic drugs with Na(+)-dependent L-alanine absorption from the small intestine, we investigated the effect of imipramine on the transport of L-alanine via system B(0), which is thought to be one of the main Na(+)-dependent systems for intestinal absorption of short-chain neutral amino acids, including L-alanine. The uptake of L-alanine by cells that express hATB(0) (human amino acid transporter B(0)) was inhibited in the presence of imipramine. The Eadie-Hofstee plot showed that the inhibition was not competitive with the substrate (L-alanine) but competitive with Na(+). When rat intestinal brush border membrane vesicles were used, several basic drugs had inhibitory effects. Inhibition was also observed in intestinal absorption evaluated by an in situ single-pass perfusion technique. However, the potencies of inhibition were different. The potency of inhibition was dependent on the lipophilicity of the drugs.

Blood-brain barrier transport of L-tyrosine Conjugates: a model study for the brain targeting using large neutral amino acid transport system

We examined the relation ship between the charge of the amino or carboxylic function of a substrate and the substrate recognition by the large neutral amino acid (LNAA) transport carrier, using the in situ brain perfusion technique. Glucose-coupled L-tyrosine (GcpY), which has a free carboxylic function, and 2-(L-tyrosylamide)-2-deoxy-D-glucose (Y-2DG), which has a free amino function were synthesized. The inhibitory effect of GcpY on [3 H]L-tyrosine uptake was larger than that of N-methly-L-phenylalanine or N-acetyl-L-phenylalanine, whereas Y-2DG did not affect it. These results indicate that a free amino group is not required for recognition, provided that the modified amino group is able to take a positive charge. Steric factors appeared to be relatively unimportant.

Oleuropein, an antioxidant polyphenol from olive oil, is poorly absorbed from isolated perfused rat intestine

Epidemiological studies have shown that the incidence of heart disease and certain cancers is lower in the Mediterranean region. This has been attributed to the high consumption of olive oil in the Mediterranean diet, which contains polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant activity. Although many in vitro studies have been performed to elucidate mechanisms by which these compounds may act, there are virtually no data relating to their fate after ingestion. Therefore, we decided to investigate the intestinal absorption of one of the major olive oil polyphenolics, oleuropein. To do this, a novel in situ intestinal perfusion technique was developed, and the absorption of oleuropein was studied under both iso-osmotic and hypotonic luminal conditions. Oleuropein was absorbed, with an apparent permeability coefficient (P:(app)) of 1.47 +/- 0.13 x 10(-6) cm/s (+/-SE) observed under iso-osmotic conditions. The mechanism of absorption is unclear but may involve transcellular transport (SGLT1) or paracellular movement. Under hypotonic conditions, the permeability of oleuropein was significantly greater (5.92 +/- 0.49 x 10(-6) cm/s, P: < 0.001). This increase is thought to be due to an increase in paracellular movement facilitated by the opening of paracellular junctions in response to hypotonicity. Overall, we determined that the olive oil polyphenolic oleuropein can be absorbed, albeit poorly, from isolated perfused rat intestine. Therefore, it is possible that it or its metabolites may confer a positive health benefit after the consumption of olive oil, most likely via an antioxidant mechanism.