Enhancement of the intestinal absorption of ergot peptide alkaloids in the rat by micellar solutions of polyoxyethylene-24-cholesteryl ether.

The incomplete intestinal absorption of hydrogenated ergot peptide alkaloids as measured in bile duct cannulated rats is much increased when the ergot compounds are administered as micellar solutions together with POE-24-cholesteryl ether. In vitro diffusion experiments with isolated intestinal mucus show that the ergot peptide alkaloids are strongly retained by the mucus layer. It is suggested that the diffusion of the ergot compounds across the mucus barrier is facilitated by micellar entrapment of the drug.