Many studies have been done over the years to assess the effectiveness of Echinacea as an immunomodulator. We have assessed the potential bioavailability of alkyl- amides and caffeic acid conjugates using Caco-2 monolayers and compared it to their actual bioavailability in a Phase I clinical trial. The caffeic acid conjugates permeated poorly through the Caco-2 monolayers. Alkylamides were found to diffuse rapidly through Caco-2 monolayers. Differences in diffusion rates for each alkylamide correlated to structural variations, with saturation and N-terminal methylation contributing to decreases in diffusion rates. Alkylamide diffusion is not affected by the presence of other constituents and the results for a synthetic alkylamide were in line with those for alkylamides found in an ethanolic Echinacea preparation. We examined plasma from healthy volunteers for 12 hours after ingestion of Echinacea tablets manufactured from an ethanolic liquid extract. Caffeic acid conjugates could not be identified in any plasma sample at any time after tablet ingestion. Alkylamides were detected in plasma 20 minutes after tablet ingestion and for each alkylamide, pharmacokinetic profiles were devised. The data are consistent with the dosing regimen of one tablet three times daily and supports their usage as the primary markers for quality Echinacea preparations.
多年来,已有许多研究对紫锥
菊作为免疫调节剂的有效性进行了评估。我们使用 Caco-2 单层膜评估了烷基
酰胺和
咖啡酸共轭物的潜在
生物利用度,并将其与 I 期临床试验中的实际
生物利用度进行了比较。
咖啡酸共轭物在 Caco-2 单层中的渗透性很差。烷基
酰胺在 Caco-2 单层中的扩散速度很快。每种烷基
酰胺的扩散速率差异与结构变化有关,饱和和 N 端
甲基化导致扩散速率下降。烷基
酰胺的扩散不受其他成分的影响,合成烷基
酰胺的扩散结果与紫锥
菊乙醇制剂中的烷基
酰胺的扩散结果一致。我们检测了健康志愿者在服用由
乙醇提取液制成的紫锥
菊药片 12 小时后的血浆。在摄入片剂后的任何时间,任何血浆样本中都无法鉴定出
咖啡酸共轭物。在服用片剂 20 分钟后的血浆中检测到烷基
酰胺,并为每种烷基
酰胺设计了药代动力学曲线。这些数据与每日三次、每次一片的用药方案一致,并支持将其作为优质紫锥
菊制剂的主要标志物。