Updates on the Interactions of Herbs Constituents with Cytochrome P450 Drug Metabolizing Enzymes

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 enzymes are the main drug-metabolizing enzyme, and their activity is influenced by numerous factors, including several plants’ constituents. Herbal products mediated induction or inhibition of cytochrome P450 leads to a change in drug metabolism and consequently, drug bioavailability, safety, therapeutic efficacy, and herb-drug interaction. Since herbal preparations are commonly used either alone or concomitantly with conventional drugs, understanding the interactions of plant constituents with cytochrome P450 is crucial. Therefore, this review highlighted plants with significant inhibition, induction, or modulatory /contradictory effects on human and animal cytochrome P450 enzymes. An extensive literature search was conducted on PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases to identify relevant literature. About sixty medicinal plants with significant interaction with cytochrome P450 isoforms were summarized with their common uses and affected cytochrome P450 enzyme isoforms. Besides, representative examples of plant constituents and other factors contributing to plant-induced cytochrome P450 modulation and possible herb-drug interactions were also discussed in this review.