Regulation of hepatobiliary excretion of sinomenine by P-glycoprotein in Sprague-Dawley rats

Sinomenine, an herbal ingredient isolated from Sinomenium acutum, is used for the amelioration of arthritis. Using microdialysis and a specially constructed hepato-duodenal shunt probe, the present study investigated the pharmacokinetics of sinomenine in rat blood and bile and the effects of P-glycoprotein modulation and cytochrome P450 inhibition. The results indicated that the pharmacokinetics of sinomenine in rat blood appeared to be dose dependent in the 3 to 30 mg/kg range. The disposition of sinomenine in the bile exhibited a slow elimination phase, reaching a peak concentration in 20-40 min following intravenous administration. The area under the concentration versus time curves (AUC's) for sinomenine in the bile were significantly greater than those in the blood at dosages of 3, 10, and 30 mg/kg with the blood-to-bile distribution ratios (k = AUC(bile) / AUC(blood)) being 3.85 +/- 0.29 and 3.52 +/- 0.28 at 10 and 30 mg/kg, respectively, indicating active hepatobiliary excretion. Coadministration with 20 mg/kg of cyclosporin A 10 min prior to sinomenine administration resulted in a significant reduction of the bile AUC's for the dosages of 10 and 30 mg/kg., resulting in the bile/blood distribution ratio being significantly reduced to 0.47 +/- 0.05 and 0.49 +/- 0.05, respectively. On the other hand, proadifen treatment increased both the blood and bile AUC's, resulting in insignificant effects on the blood-to-bile distribution ratios. In conclusion, our results indicated that sinomenine underwent active hepatobiliary elimination which may be regulated by the P-glycoprotein and that P-450 was likely involved in its metabolism.