Pharmacokinetic Study of Berberine in Ultramicro-Pulverised Powder of Huanglian jiedusan in Rabbits

【Objective】 To study the pharmacokinetics of berberine in ultramicro pulverization of Huanglian jiedusan (HLJDS) in rabbits in vitro.【Method】 The plasma concentration of berberine was determined by HPLC in two groups of rabbits after they were administered with ultramicro-pulverised powder and with ordinary powder of HLJDS by gastrogavage, respectively. The plasma concentration-time data of berberine was analyzed by Pharmaceutical Kinetics Software (PKS). Pharmacokinetic characteristics in both groups were compared.【Result】Two-compartment open model was the optimum one of berberine in the groups. The pharmacokinetic parameters were as follows: t1/2α was1.08h and 1.33h, t1/2β was 28.72 h and 23.56 h, Tpeak was 1.480 h and 1.934 h, Cmax was 0.0913 μg·ml-1 and 0.0565 μg·ml-1, AUC was 0.895 (μg·ml-1)·h and 0.613 (μg·ml-1)·h, respectively. 【Conclusion】Tpeak was shorter, Cmax was higher and bioavailability was better in ultramicro-pulverised powder group than in ordinary powder group. It was indicated that the bioavailability of berberine in HLJDS could be greatly improved by the technique of ultromicro-pulverization.