The regulating effect of Aconitum administered with Fritillaria on cytochrome P450 in rat livers

OBJECTIVE To study the effect of Aconitum with Fritillaria on the enzyme activity,protein expression and mRNA level of cytochrome P450 isoenzymes in rat liver.METHODS CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 activities were quantitated by high performance liquid chromatographic(HPLC)assay;CYP3A1/2 activity was determined by UV spectrophotometry.The protein expression of CYP1A2,CYP2E1,CYP3A1,and CYP3A2 were detected by Western blot.The mRNA level of CYP1A2,CYP2E1,CYP3A1,and CYP3A2 were detected by semi-quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR).RESULTS Aconitum administered with Fritillaria obviously inhibited the activities of CYP1A2,CYP2E1.The protein expression of CYP1A2,CYP2E1,and CYP3A2 were markedly inhibited when treated with Aconitum together with Fritillaria but the protein expression of CYP3A1 was increased.The mRNA level of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 was decreased compared with control group,but the mRNA level of CYP3A1 and CYP3A2 were increased.CONCLUSION Aconitum administered with Fritillaria has an inhibitory effect on the enzyme activity of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1.The enzyme activity inhibitory effect may be caused via the decrease of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 protein expression.