Anthocyanins are receiving renewed attention for their positive health attributes. High intakes and an adequate absorption rate of anthocyanins are necessary for efficient protection, though other dietary agents might influence absorption efficacy. The aim of this study was to investigate intestinal handling of luminally administered cyanidin-3-glucoside in the absence and presence of ethanol in an isolated preparation of luminally and vascularly perfused rat small intestine. A synthetic perfusate free from blood components was used as vascular medium, with a perfluorocarbon as the oxygen carrier. Luminal media consisted of a bicarbonate buffered sodium chloride solution in water or in water/ethanol (95/5), spiked with cyanidin-3-glucoside. Absorption rate of cyanidin-3-glucoside was 4.3% +/- 3.2 (n=5). Ethanol (5 %) had no significant influence on absorption rate (2.9% +/- 1.8, n=5). Irrespective of the presence of ethanol, the majority of the absorbed cyanidin-3-glucoside appeared unchanged, besides some cyanidin-3-glucoside-conjugate.