Effects of Flos Carthami on CYP2D6 and on the Pharmacokinetics of Metoprolol in Rats

Flos Carthami is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Clinically, the Flos Carthami Injection has been used concomitantly with other Western drugs and may be used concomitantly with beta-blockers, such as metoprolol, to treat cerebrovascular and coronary heart diseases, in China. Metoprolol is a CYP2D6 substrate and is predominantly metabolized by this isozyme. However, we do not know whether there is an effect of Flos Carthami on CYP2D6 and the consequences of such an effect. Concern is raised regarding the possible herb-drug interaction. In this report, the effects of Flos Carthami on the activity of CYP2D6 in vivo and in vitro and on the pharmacokinetics of metoprolol, in rats, are investigated. To assess the inhibitory potency of Flos Carthami, the concentration associated with 50% inhibition (IC50) of dextromethorphan metabolism was determined based on the concentration-inhibition curves. The inhibitory effect of Flos Carthami on CYP2D6 was also compared with cimetidine in vitro. Flos Carthami could significantly inhibit CYP2D6 in rats both in vitro and in vivo (P < .05) and could slow down the metabolic rate of metoprolol as suggested by prolonged t(1/2) (67.45%), by increased C-max (74.51%) and AUC(0-infinity) (76.89%). These results suggest that CYP2D6 is a risk factor when Flos Carthami is administered concomitantly with metoprolol or other CYP2D6 substrates.