Transport characteristics of ginkgolide B by Caco-2 cells and examination of ginkgolide B oral absorption potential using rat in situ intestinal loop method

The intestinal absorptive characteristics of ginkgolide B were investigated. The Caco-2 cells and the in situ closed loop were used as models of the intestinal mucosa to assess transepithelial transport of ginkgolide B. The determination of ginkgolide B was performed by HPLC–MS. In the Caco-2 cells, the absorptive transepithelial transport of ginkgolide B was pH dependent and the transport was enhanced at weakly acidic pH on the apical side. No concentration dependence and saturation were observed for the absorptive transport of ginkgolide B at concentrations up to 50 μM. In the in situ closed loop, the absorption of ginkgolide B was intestinal segment-selective. The results indicate that the intestinal absorption of ginkgolide B in the upper intestine was significantly higher than that in the lower intestine.