Abstract

FRUIT/VEGETABLE–DRUG INTERACTIONS: PHARMACOKINETIC ASSAY WITH A CYP3A4 SUBSTRATE

Cecilia Nwadiuto Amadi* and Etoroabasi Edem Peters

Abstract

Important health benefits of complex mixtures of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables have been established. However, these phytochemicals have been shown to influence the pharmacological activity of drugs by modifying activities of key metabolizing enzyme systems, specifically the cytochrome P450 enzymes. Felodipine, an antihypertensive agent, has been identified as a substrate for CYP3A4.Carica papaya (pawpaw fruit) and Telfairia occidentalis(ugu/pumpkin vegetable) are common staple fruit and vegetable regularly consumed in Nigeria. However, the potential fruit/vegetable-drug interactions between felodipine and pawpaw/pumpkin are unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of pawpaw juice and pumpkin (ugu) vegetable extract on the pharmacokinetics of felodipine in rats. The pharmacokinetic profiles of orally administered felodipine (10 mg/kg) in the absence and presence of pawpaw juice (10 mL/kg) /pumpkin (ugu) extract (10 mL/kg) were investigated in rats. There was a significant (p

Keywords: fruit/vegetable-drug interactions, pharmacokinetics, bioavailability, enzyme induction.