Herb - drug interaction: the effect of tinospora crispa miers. on drug metabolism in rat liver

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Date
2009
Authors
Phaik Tin, Tan
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Abstract
Tinospora crispa Miers. (Family: Menispermaceae) or locally known as Patawali or Akar Seruntum, is a plant that has been used locally as a remedy for diabetes mellitus, and metabolic disorders. The objective of this study is to investigate the in vitro and ex vivo effects of the crude extract and different solvent extracts of the stem of Tinospora crispa on aminopyrine N-demethylase activity in SpragueOawley (SO) rat liver. n-Hexane, chloroform, n-butanol and aqueous extracts derived from methanolic-soluble residue of Tinospora crispa were used to investigate their effects on aminopyrine Phase I metabolism in rat hepatocytes. Isolated hepatocytes from SO rat liver were prepared using the collagenase perfusion technique and differential centrifugation technique. The influence of gender, age and disease (diabetes) were examined on the effects of Tinospora crispa on aminoyrine N-demethylase activity. Results obtained showed that the chloroform extract of Tinospora crispa, in vitro, could affect the N-demethylation of aminopyrine (and probably other drugs that undergo similar Phase I N-demethylation reaction such as diazepam, morphine and etc). The ex vivo study of normal and diabetic (STZ-induced) SO rats demonstrated that in young female & old female (for both normal & diabetic groups) there was a significant effect on aminopyrine N-demethylase activity. The possible toxic effect of the chloroform extract of T. crispa in liver and kidney of SO rats was determined. The results in normal SO rats showed that caution should be exercised for long term intake at doses 500 mg/kg and more of the chloroform extract of T. crispa because it may cause toxicity to the liver. However, in diabetic (STZ-induced) SO rats, no significant change in the clinical biochemistry analysis was observed at 1 0 and 100 mg/kg of chloroform extract of T. crispa. The body weights of the rats were variable between the groups, depending on different factors, such as gender, age & disease condition. A total of 6 deaths were reported in several groups which were administered with 500 mg/kg of the chloroform extract of T. crispa. The in vitro effect of the chloroform extract of T. crispa on aminopyrine metabolism in young male diabetic rat hepatocytes was probably mediated through various molecular pathways i.e. via the cAMP pathway at lower concentrations; as a phosphatase stimulant and an inhibitor of protein kinase C. In the presence of furafylline, the chloroform extract of T. crispa enhanced the activity of cytochrome P4501A2ยท In conclusion, the chloroform extract of T. crispa affected Phase I aminopyrine N-demethylation in certain groups of rat liver. Caution must be exercised when using the chloroform extract of T. crispa at doses equal to or greater than 500 mg/kg for the long-term because it significantly elevated the Al T (alanine aminotransferase) level in adult male rats.
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Tinospora crispa miers , Drug metabolism
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