In vitro studies of intestinal permeability and hepatic and intestinal metabolism of 8-prenylnaringenin, a potent phytoestrogen from hops (Humulus lupulus L.)

The absorption potential and metabolism of 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN) from hops (Humulus lupulus L.) were investigated. 8-PN is a potent estrogen with the potential to be used for the relief of menopausal symptoms in women. Monolayers of the human intestinal epithelial cancer cell line Caco-2 and human hepatocytes were incubated with 8-PN to model its intestinal absorption and hepatic metabolism, respectively. The apparent permeability coefficients for 8-PN in the apical-to-basolateral and basolateral-to-apical directions of a Caco-2 monolayer were 5.2 +/- 0.7 x 10(-5) and 4.9 +/- 0.5 x 10(-5) cm/s, respectively, indicating good intestinal absorption via passive diffusion. Both glucuronide and sulfate conjugates of 8-PN were detected in the Caco-2 cell incubations. The 4'-O-glucuronide was the predominant Caco-2 cell metabolite, followed by 7-O-sulfate and 4'-O-sulfate. Both phase I and phase II metabolites of 8-PN were formed by human hepatocytes. The 7-O-glucuronide was the most abundant hepatocyte metabolite, and no sulfate conjugates were detected. Incubations with various cDNA-expressed UDP-glucuronosyltransferases indicated that the isozymes UGT1A1, UGT1A6, UGT1A8, and UGT1A9 were responsible for glucuronidation of 8-PN. Although orally administered 8-PN should be readily absorbed from the intestine, its bioavailability should be reduced significantly by intestinal and hepatic metabolism.