Planta Med 2008; 74(10): 1269-1275
DOI: 10.1055/s-2008-1074580
Pharmacology
Original Paper
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

In Vitro Metabolic Stability and Intestinal Transport of P57AS3 (P57) from Hoodia gordonii and its Interaction with Drug Metabolizing Enzymes

Vamsi L.M. Madgula1 , Bharathi Avula1 , Rahul S. Pawar1 , Yatin J. Shukla2 , Ikhlas A. Khan1 , 2 , Larry A. Walker1 , 3 , Shabana I. Khan1
  • 1National Center for Natural Products Research, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 2Department of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
  • 3Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, University, MS, USA
Further Information

Publication History

Received: November 14, 2007 Revised: April 28, 2008

Accepted: May 13, 2008

Publication Date:
08 July 2008 (online)

Abstract

Hoodia gordonii, a succulent cactus-like plant growing in South Africa, has been used in traditional medicine for its appetite suppressant properties. Its use as a dietary supplement to promote weight loss has recently gained popularity. An oxypregnane steroidal glycoside P57AS3 (P57) is reported to be the active constituent of the sap extract responsible for anorexigenic activity. No information is available about its metabolic stability, intestinal transport and interaction with drug metabolizing enzymes. In the present investigation, the metabolic stability of P57 in human liver microsomes and its interaction with drug metabolizing enzymes (CYP1A2, 2C9, 3A4 and 2D6) were determined. Intestinal transport of P57 was studied in the Caco-2 cell model of intestinal transport and absorption. P57 was metabolically stable in the presence of human liver microsomes. The compound inhibited CYP3A4 activity with an IC50 value of 45 μM, whereas the activity of CYP 1A2, 2C9 and 2D6 was not inhibited. In the Caco-2 model, P57 exhibited a higher transport in the secretory direction than in the absorptive direction with efflux ratios of 3.1 and 3.8 at 100 and 200 μM, respectively. The efflux was inhibited by selective inhibitors of multidrug resistance associated proteins MRP1/MRP2 (MK-571) and P-gp (verapamil). In conclusion, intestinal transport of P57 was mediated by P-gp and MRP transporters. The compound was metabolically stable and showed weak inhibition of CYP 3A4.

Abbreviations

Caco-2:human colonic adenocarcinoma

CYP:cytochrome P450

H. gordonii:Hoodia gordonii

Ly:Lucifer yellow

MRP:multidrug resistance-associated protein

P57AS3:P57

Papp:apparent permeability

P-gp:P-glycoprotein

TEER:transepithelial electrical resistance

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Shabana I. Khan

National Center for Natural Products Research

School of Pharmacy

University of Mississippi

MS 38677

USA

Phone: +1/662/915/1041

Fax: +1/662/915/7062

Email: skhan@olemiss.edu