Abstract
Inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) were identified in crude extracts from the rhizomes of Piper methysticum G. Forst. (Kava-Kava) using bioassay-guided fractionation. After preliminary purification of an ethyl acetate extract with solid phase extraction, the eluate was further fractionated by means of HPLC and fractions were tested for inhibitory potency using cDNA expressed CYP3A4. Positive fractions were analysed with LC/MS using electrospray ionisation and kavapyrones could be identified as the main CYP3A4 inhibitory components of Piper methysticum.
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Dr. Matthias Unger
Institute of Pharmacy and Food Chemistry
Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Am Hubland
97074 Würzburg
Germany
Phone: +49 931 888 5451
Fax: +49 931 888 5494
Email: m.unger@pharmazie.uni-wuerzburg.de
