ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the mechanisms of intestine absorption of astragaloside IV in rat.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>The K(a) and P(app) of astragaloside IV was investigated using single-pass intestinal perfusion technique in rats. HPLC was used to determine the concentration of astragaloside IV. The effect of absorption site, drug concentration and the inhibitors of P-glycoproteon on the absorption had been studied.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>By the testing of the statistics, the K(a) and the P(app) values of the duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colonic had significant differences (P < 0.05). The concentration from 20-80 mg x L(-1) had no distinctive effect on the K(a) and P(app) of small intestine. The inhibitors of P-glycoproteon had no distinctive effect on the absorption of small intestine.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Astragaloside IV is absorbed by typical passive diffusion mechanism.</p>