Potent inhibition of human cytochrome P450 3A isoforms by cannabidiol: role of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resorcinol moiety.

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Yamaori S, Ebisawa J, Okushima Y, Yamamoto I, Watanabe K

Potent inhibition of human cytochrome P450 3A isoforms by cannabidiol: role of phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resorcinol moiety.

Life Sci. 2011 Apr 11;88(15-16):730-6. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2011.02.017. Epub 2011 Feb 26.

PubMed ID

21356216 [ View in PubMed

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Abstract

AIMS: In this study, we examined the inhibitory effects of Delta(9)-tetrahydrocannabinol (Delta(9)-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and cannabinol (CBN), the three major cannabinoids, on the activity of human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A enzymes. Furthermore, we investigated the kinetics and structural requirement for the inhibitory effect of CBD on the CYP3A activity. MAIN METHODS: Diltiazem N-demethylase activity of recombinant CYP3A4, CYP3A5, CYP3A7, and human liver microsomes (HLMs) in the presence of cannabinoids was determined. KEY FINDINGS: Among the three major cannabinoids, CBD most potently inhibited CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 (IC(50)=11.7 and 1.65 muM, respectively). The IC(50) values of Delta(9)-THC and CBN for CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 were higher than 35 muM. For CYP3A7, Delta(9)-THC, CBD, and CBN inhibited the activity to a similar extent (IC(50)=23-31 muM). CBD competitively inhibited the activity of CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and HLMs (K(i)=1.00, 0.195, and 6.14 muM, respectively). On the other hand, CBD inhibited the CYP3A7 activity in a mixed manner (K(i)=12.3 muM). Olivetol partially inhibited all the CYP3A isoforms tested, whereas d-limonene showed lack of inhibition. The lesser inhibitory effects of monomethyl and dimethyl ethers of CBD indicated that the ability of CYP3A inhibition by the cannabinoid attenuated with the number of methylation on the phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resorcinol moiety. SIGNIFICANCE: This study indicated that CBD most potently inhibited catalytic activity of human CYP3A enzymes, especially CYP3A4 and CYP3A5. These results suggest that two phenolic hydroxyl groups in the resorcinol moiety of CBD may play an important role in the CYP3A inhibition.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes

Drug	Enzyme	Kind	Organism	Pharmacological Action	Actions
Cannabidiol	Cytochrome P450 3A4	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate Inhibitor	Details
Cannabidiol	Cytochrome P450 3A5	Protein	Humans	Unknown	Substrate Inhibitor	Details