Interaction of baicalin and baicalein with antibiotics in the gastrointestinal tract

To clarify the absorption mechanism of baicalin and to investigate the interaction between baicalin and antibiotics, the pharmacokinetics of baicalin and its aglycone baicalein in normal rats and in antibiotic-treated (with a mixture of neomycin and streptomycin) rats were investigated. A method of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry with a selected reaction monitoring mode was used to determine the plasma concentrations of baicalin and baicalein. The plasma concentration of total baicalein was determined after treatment of beta-glucuronidase/sulfatase. Unpaired Student's t-test was used for statistical comparison. After oral administration of baicalin, the absolute bioavailability of baicalin, based on the AUC of the baicalin parent form, was 2.2+/-0.2% in normal rats, which decreased to 1.5+/-0.2% in antibiotic-treated rats. Based on the AUC of total baicalein after enzymatic hydrolysis, the absorption of baicalin was 28.0+/-5.7%, which significantly decreased to 7.7+/-1.2% in antibiotic-treated rats. After oral administration of baicalein, the glucuronides/sulfates of baicalein were predominant in plasma. Based on the AUC of total baicalein after enzymatic hydrolysis, the absorption of baicalein was 36.1+/-4.4% in normal rats, which did not differ markedly from that in antibiotic-treated rats (P>0.05). The presence of baicalin isomer in plasma after oral administration of baicalin indicated that baicalin was transformed, at least in part, to baicalein before absorption, then to its conjugated metabolites in rats. Aminoglycosides decreased the absorption of baicalin, but not of baicalein, which indicated that antibiotics decreased the decomposition of baicalin to baicalein by inhibiting intestinal flora, and further influenced the absorption, metabolism and efficacy of baicalin. These interactions should be paid attention to in clinical studies when baicalin is administered in combination with antibiotics.