ABSTRACT
<p><b>AIM</b>To study the absorption of zedoary oil in intestine of rat.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>In situ single pass perfusion model was used and the concentrations of three components in perfusate were determined by HPLC in combination with diode array detection.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The P(app) s of curcumol, curdione and germacrone were all low and had no significant difference (P > 0.05) at zedoary oil concentration of 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mg x mL(-1) in transmucosal fluid or in four different regions of intestine of rat [duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon]. The absorption rates of germacrone and curdione were faster than curcumol's in this study.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The zedoary oil concentration in transmucosal fluid had no significant effect on the P(app) s within the scope of 0.4-1.2 mg x mL(-1). The absorption of curcumol, curdione and germacrone showed the passive diffusion process, and didn't contain a special absorption window.</p>