Objective: To investigate transport characteristics of main ingredients from Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma in Caco-2 cell model and provide a reference for further studies on its in vivo absorption characteristics. Method: Transport of main ingredients in Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma from apical side to basolateral side was studied by Caco-2 cell monolayer model.Permeability of oxymatrine and matrine from these two sides was determined by UPLC-MS

mobile phase was 0.1% formic acid-acitonitrile by gradient elution at flow rate of 0.4 mL·min-1.Mass spectrum was operated in positive mode with oxymatrine (m/z±H) 265.1 and matrine(m/z±H) 249.1

their apparent permeability coefficients (Papp) were calculated. Result: At 120 min after dosing

Papp of matine was (11.43±0.41)×10-6 cm·s-1

indicating that transmittance of matine was high;while Papp of oxymatine was (3.91±0.70)×10-6 cm·s-1

indicating that transmittance of oxymatine was lower.Twenty constituents were detected in aqueous extract of Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma

five constituents of them(P2

P4

P6

P7

P25) including matrine had high levels of transmittance

six constituents(P3

P5

P9

P11

P14

P27) had medium levels of transmittance

these other substances had low levels of transmittance or had no transmittance at all

which included oxymatrine. Conclusion: Fifty-five percent of main components are easily transported through momolayer.Among all components

matrine can be absorbed easily in vitro cell model

however

permeability of oxymatrine is poorer than matrine in vitro.This study suggests that matrine may be one of major components that was aborsopted in vivo of Sophorae Tonkinensis Radix et Rhizoma.