CACO-2 has been used in the cytotoxicity studies with high pressure-assisted extraction (HPE) fraction of nettle leaf extracts. CACO-2 may be used as a cell model to study:
in vitro permeability assay with various biopharmaceuticals
in iron uptake and absorption studies
in the cytotoxicity assay with surfactants and transporter inhibitors
in liposome formulated drug uptake and cytotoxicity studies
Biochem/physiol Actions
Caco-2 (Cancer coli-2) is derived from colorectal adenocarcinoma and grows as an adherent monolayer of epithelial cells. Caco-2 cell line is a widely used intestinal epithelium model and has unique spontaneous differentiation and confluence property. It actively transports vitamins, hormones, amino acids and sugars. Caco-2 expresses various enzymes, ionic and non-ionic transporters similar to normal human epithelia. Caco-2 cell line models grow on filter support. They have simplicity and reproducibility and provide reliable information. Since Caco-2 mimics the intestinal epithelium, it is the preferred cell model for cytotoxic studies, food and drug transport studies.