Pharmacological studies on iridoid compounds. III. The choleretic mechanism of iridoid compounds.

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Abstract
A study was done on choleretic property and mechanism of action of genipin, a Gardenia geniposide derivative as well as dehydrocholate (DHC), cholate (CA) and salicylate (SA), examining their effects on factors such as bile flow, bile acids, electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl- and HCO3-) and their metabolites in Wistar rats. Each sample showed a characteristic property, respectively. Genipin and patrinoside decreased biliary concentrations of bile acids, Na+, Cl- and HCO3-, corresponding to their rapid choleretic actions which were due to bile acid-independent fraction. The choleretic action of DHC was approximately twice as potent as that of CA. Their actions were due to bile acids-dependent fraction. CA markedly increased Na+ concentration but DHC did not. And both compounds gave a marked diminution in Cl- concentration and weakly decreased HCO3- concentration. SA showed a weak and durable choleretic action and also a markedly increased HCO3- concentration. The main metabolite detected from the bile given genipin was genipin-l-O-glucuronic acid (GGA). The periodical pattern of GGA level in bile was in agreement with that of genipin-induced choleretic action, and quantitatively cation-anion gap produced was nearly compensated by biliary concentration of GGA. The hemiacetal moiety of iridoid may undergo conjugation in the liver to give glucuronide. Glucuronide thus formed probably is secreted into the biliary tree being coupled mainly with Na+ and H2O is passively excreted.