ABSTRACT
Objective: To study the bi-direction transport behavior of brucine and strychnine in the MDCK-MDR1 cell monolayer model. Methods: MTT method was employed to confirm the safe concentration of brucine and strychnine towards MDCK-MDR1 cells. The effects of transport time, drug concentration, and P-glycoprotein inhibitor verapamil on cumulative absorption concentration (Ccum) and apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) of brucine and strychnine in MDCK-MDR1 monolayer cells were studied. Results: The Papp value of brucine and strychnine was larger than 1 × 10-5 cm/s and the ratio of Papp(BL→AP) vs Papp(AP→BL) was less than 2. Brucine/ strychnine combined with verapamil decreased the ratio of Papp(BL→AP) vs Papp(AP→BL). Conclusion: The absorption of brucine and strychnine in MDCK-MDR1 cell monolayer model was well and the passive transference was its main intestinal absorption mechanism. The P-gp inhibitor verapamil has a significant inhibitory effect on brucine and strychnine absorption. Brucine and strychnine may be a substrate of P-glycoprotein.