Moringa oleifera leaf extracts inhibit 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone by CYP3A4

Authors

  • Tsitsi G. Monera University of Zimbabwe, School of Pharmacy, Harare
  • Alan R. Wolfe University of California San Francisco, Department ofClinical Pharmacy, San Francisco, California
  • Charles C. Maponga University of Zimbabwe, School of Pharmacy, Harare
  • Leslie Z. Benet University of California San Francisco, Department ofClinical Pharmacy, San Francisco, California
  • Joseph Guglielmo University of California San Francisco, Department ofClinical Pharmacy, San Francisco, California

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.201

Keywords:

Moringa oleifera, CYP3A4, herb-drug interaction

Abstract

Background: Moringa oleifera is a tropical tree often used as a herbal medicine, including by people who test positive for HIV. Since herbal constituents may interact with drugs via inhibition of metabolizing enzymes, we investigated the effects of extracts of M. oleifera on the CYP3A4-mediated 6ß-hydroxylation of testosterone. Methods: Methanolic and aqueous leaf and root of extracts of M. oleifera with concentrations between 0.01 and 10 mg/ml were incubated with testosterone and mixed-sex human liver microsomes in the presence of NADPH. Metabolite concentrations were determined by HPLC. The cytotoxicity of the extracts was tested with HepG2 cells using the MTT formazan assay. Results: Significant CYP3A4 inhibitory effects were found, with IC50 values of 0.5 and 2.5 mg/ml for leaf-methanol and leaf-water extracts, respectively. Root extracts were less active. Cytotoxicity was observed only with the leaf-water extract (IC50 = 6 mg/ml). Conclusions: Further investigation is warranted to elucidate the potential of M. oleifera for clinically significant interactions with antiretroviral and other drugs.

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Published

2008-10-01

How to Cite

1.
Monera TG, Wolfe AR, Maponga CC, Benet LZ, Guglielmo J (2008) Moringa oleifera leaf extracts inhibit 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone by CYP3A4. J Infect Dev Ctries 2:379–383. doi: 10.3855/jidc.201

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Original Articles