RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the transmembrane transport and metabolism of diammonium glycyrrhizinate in intestines of rats.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>An Ussing Chamber model were used to investigate the transmembrane transport of diammonium glycyrrhizinate (GZ), the concentrations of diammonium glycyrrhizinate and its two metabolites were determined by HPLC.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>The permeability coefficients of GZ in difference intestinal mucous membranes were ranged from 0.3 x 10(-6) cm x s(-1) to 1.1 x 10(-6) cm x s(-1). The metabolism of GZ in enterocytes during its transport process was negligible. The concentration of diammonium glycyrrhizinate and pH had limit effects on the transport amount and the permeability coefficients of GZ.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>GZ is a low permeability drug, but it can be absorbed at all segments of the small intestine in rats. Ileum is the major absorption region of GZ.</p>