Abstract
The effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE), one of the most widely used herbal dietary supplements in Japan, on the pharmacokinetics of diltiazem (DTZ), a typical probe of cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A, were examined in rats. The simultaneous addition of GBE to small intestine and liver microsomes inhibited the formation of N-demethyl DTZ (MA), an active metabolite of DTZ produced by CYP3A, in a concentration-dependent manner, with an IC(50) of about 50 and 182 microg/ml, respectively. This inhibition appeared to be caused, at least in part, by a mechanism-based inhibition. Both the rate of formation of MA and total amount of CYP in intestinal or hepatic microsomes after a single oral pretreatment with GBE (20 mg/kg) decreased transiently. The pretreatment significantly decreased the terminal elimination rate constant and increased the mean residence time, after intravenous administration of DTZ (3 mg/kg). Furthermore, it significantly increased the area under the concentration-time curve and absolute bioavailability after oral administration of DTZ (30 mg/kg). These results indicated that the concomitant use of GBE in rats increased the bioavailability of DTZ by inhibiting both intestinal and hepatic metabolism, at least in part, via a mechanism-based inhibition for CYP3A.
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