RESUMO
Objective: To investigate the inhibition of rutaecarpine, a main component in Evodiae Fructus, on the hepatic metabolism of five Coptis alkaloids, and to provide the basis for further study of compatibility mechanism between Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus. Methods: Using rat liver microsome incubation method, the inhibition of rutaecarpine on hepatic metabolism of five Coptis alkaloids in vitro was investigated. Results: Rutaecarpine could inhibit the in vitro hepatic metabolisms of coptisine, epiberberine, berberine, palmatine, and jatrorrhizine. The half inhibitory concentration (IC50) was all greater than 50 μmol/L which showed rutaecarpine had a weak inhibition on Coptis alkaloids. The differences of inhibition constant (Ki) were statistically significant (P jatrorrhizine > palmatine > epiberberine > coptisine. Conclusion: The results could provide the basis to learn the major role on the links that Evodiae Fructus acted on Coptis alkaloids and reveal the compatibility mechanism between Coptidis Rhizoma and Evodiae Fructus.