Objective: The aim of present study is to evaluate the inhibitory potential of licorice extract on cytochrome P450 (CYP) in human liver microsomes.
Methods: Using human liver microsomes, either water or ethanol extract of licorice as an inhibitor was...
Objective: The aim of present study is to evaluate the inhibitory potential of licorice extract on cytochrome P450 (CYP) in human liver microsomes.
Methods: Using human liver microsomes, either water or ethanol extract of licorice as an inhibitor was co-incubated with each probe drug representing selective CYP isoform activity. We measured relative metabolic activity in incubation condition compared to that with no extract of licorice using HPLC system.
Results: Both water and ethanol extracts of licorice showed inhibitory effect on CYP-catalyzed reactions. CYP2C19 (IC50= 126.7pg/ml) is most potently inhibited by water extract than other tested CYP isoforms (IC50>450pg/ml), but ethanol extract of licorice exhibited potent inhibition on CYP2C8 (IC50= 43.2pg/ml), followed by CYP2C9 (IC50= 72.8pg/ml), and CYP2C9 (IC50= 98.1pg/ml). Additionally, ethanol extract of licorice showed relatively more potent inhibition compared to that of water extract (2.5-14 fold potent).
Conclusion: These results indicate that extract of licorice has inhibitory potential on CYP-catalyzed reaction in human liver microsomes, and ethanol extract of licorice showed more potent inhibition than its water extract. The inhibition by licorice on CYP isoforms may cause drug interaction with co-administered drug leading to toxicity or treatment failure.