Berberine as a chemical and pharmacokinetic marker of the butanol-extracted Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2.

Abstract

RATIONALE:

Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2 (FAHF-2) provided protection against peanut anaphylaxis in a murine model and induced beneficial immune-modulation in humans. Butanol-refined FAHF-2, B-FAHF-2, retained safety and efficacy in the peanut allergic murine model at only 1/5 of FAHF-2 dosage. One compound, berberine, was isolated and identified in vitro as a bioactive component present in FAHF-2 and B-FAHF-2. The aim of this study was to investigate berberine as a chemical and pharmacokinetic marker of B-FAHF-2.

METHODS:

The consistency of constituents between B-FAHF-2 and FAHF-2 was tested. Peanut allergic C3H/HeJ mice were orally administered with 1mg of berberine or B-FAHF-2 containing an equivalent amount of berberine, and the ability to protect against peanut anaphylaxis and pharmacokinetic parameters were determined. Human intestinal epithelial cells (Caco-2) were cultured with berberine with or without the nine individual herbal constituents in B-FAHF-2, and the absorbed berberine levels were determined.

RESULTS:

Berberine is one of the major components in B-FAHF-2 and FAHF-2 formula. In a peanut allergic mouse model, B-FAHF-2, but not berberine, protected mice from anaphylaxis reactions. Pharmacokinetic profiles showed that the Cmax of B-FAHF-2 fed mice was 289.30±185.40ng/mL; whereas berberine alone showed very low bioavailability with Cmax value of 35.13±47.90ng/mL. Caco-2 cells influx assay showed that 7 of 9 herbal constituents in B-FAHF-2 increased berberine absorption at rates ranging from 18 to 205%.

CONCLUSIONS:

B-FAHF-2 remarkably increased the bioavailability of berberine. Berberine can be used as chemical and pharmacokinetic marker of B-FAHF-2. Other herbal components in B-FAHF-2 may facilitate the absorption of berberine.

• Authors: Nan Yang, Kamal Srivastava, Ying Song, Changda Liu, Sool Cho, Yujuan Chen, Xiu-Min Li
• Journal: International immunopharmacology (Int Immunopharmacol) Vol. 45 Pg. 120-127 (Apr 2017) ISSN: 1878-1705 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 28208101 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier B.V.

Chemical References

• Allergens
• Butanols
• Food Allergy Herbal Formula-2
• Interleukin-5
• Plant Extracts
• Berberine
• Immunoglobulin E
• Interferon-gamma

Topics

• Allergens (chemistry, immunology)
• Anaphylaxis (etiology, prevention & control)
• Animals
• Berberine (chemistry, immunology)
• Butanols (chemistry)
• Caco-2 Cells
• Female
• Humans
• Immunoglobulin E (blood)
• Interferon-gamma (metabolism)
• Interleukin-5 (metabolism)
• Mice
• Mice, Inbred C3H
• Peanut Hypersensitivity (complications, drug therapy)
• Plant Extracts (chemistry, immunology)