Abstract
This study was aimed to determine the mechanism for flavonoid poor absorption related to P-glycoprotein (P-gp). The cellular uptake (CU) of 40 flavonoids was investigated in P-gp overexpressing KB/multidrug-resistant (MDR) cells. A total of 9 flavonoids, including 5,7,3',4'-tetramethoxyflavone, with a significant ( p < 0.05) CUKBE (2.90 ± 0.146 μmol/g) higher than CUKBP (1.57 ± 0.129 μmol/g) were identified as P-gp substrates. Besides, 8 substrates, including tangeretin, showed a significant ( p < 0.05) CUKB (9.72 ± 1.09 μmol/g) higher than its CUKBP (7.36 ± 0.692 μmol/g). A total of 7 of 17 flavonoid substrates stimulated the P-gp efflux of rhodamine 123, and most substrates increased P-gp expression in KB/MDR cells. Docking analyses showed a good correlation ( R = 0.764; p < 0.01) between efflux fold and S_scoring of flavonoids to the P-gp model, indicating consistency between in silico and in vitro results. A structure-affinity relationship exhibited that 3-OH, 5-OH, 3'-OCH3, and 4'-OCH3 are crucial for flavonoids binding to P-gp. These results provide valuable information for finding a solution to improve the absorption of flavonoids.