Herbal-drug interaction through the pregnane X receptor

The interaction potential of Cynara scolymusL.,Mikania glomerataSpreng.,Rhamnus purshianaDC and Uncaria tomentosa(Willd. Ex Roem. & Schult.) with conventional drugs metabolized by the CYP3A4 metabolic route was tested in HeLa cell lines, using the in vitromodel of the hPXR. The herbal medicines C. scolymus(1.5 mg/mL dry extract) did not affect the receptor. On the other hand, M. glomerata(5.5 mg/mL dry extract), R. purshiana(1.5 mg/mL dry extract), and U. tomentosa(2.0 mg/mL dry extract) showed to be hPXR agonist, suggesting a potential interaction with the conventional drugs metabolized by the same isoforms of the CYP superfamily. The results from this study contribute to the use safer and more effective of these herbal medicines.