Selective inhibitory effects of suberosin on CYP1A2 in human liver microsomes

Abstract Suberosin is a natural phytoconstituent isolated from Citropsis articulata, especially employed for its anticoagulant properties. Although metabolic studies assessing suberosin have been conducted, it is possible interactions with drugs and food have not yet been investigated. In the present study, we analyzed the selective inhibitory effects of suberosin on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes using a cocktail probe assay. Various concentrations of suberosin (0–50 μM) were incubated with isoform‐specific CYP probes in human liver microsomes (HLMs). We found that suberosin significantly inhibited CYP1A2‐catalyzed phenacetin O‐deethylation, exhibiting IC50 values of 9.39 ± 2.05 and 3.07 ± 0.45 μM with and without preincubation in the presence of β‐NADPH, respectively. Moreover, suberosin showed concentration‐dependent, but not time‐dependent, CYP1A2 inhibition in HLMs, indicating that suberosin acts as a substrate and reversible CYP1A2 inhibitor. Using a Lineweaver‐Burk plot, we found that suberosin competitively inhibited CYP1A2‐catalyzed phenacetin O‐deethylation. Furthermore, suberosin showed similar inhibitory effects on recombinant human CYP1A1 and 1A2. In conclusion, suberosin may elicit herb–drug interactions by selectively inhibiting CYP1A2 during the concurrent administration of drugs that act as CYP1A2 substrates.