title: Identification of Ginkgo biloba as a novel activator of pregnane X receptor.
abstract: Pregnane X receptor (PXR; NR1I2) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that plays a role not only in drug metabolism and transport but also in various other biological processes. Ginkgo biloba is a herbal medicine commonly used to manage memory impairment. Treatment of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes with G. biloba extract increases the mRNA expression of CYP3A23, which is a target gene for rat PXR. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that G. biloba extract activates PXR. Treatment of mouse PXR (mPXR) or human PXR (hPXR)-transfected HepG2 cells with G. biloba extract at 200 microg/ml increased mPXR and hPXR activation by 3.2- and 9.5-fold, respectively. Dose-response analysis showed a log-linear increase in hPXR activation by the extract over the range of 200 to 800 microg/ml. To determine whether G. biloba extract induces hPXR target gene expression, cultured LS180 human colon adenocarcinoma cells were treated for 72 h with the extract. G. biloba extract at 200, 400, and 800 microg/ml increased CYP3A4 mRNA expression by 1.7-, 2.4-, and 2.5-fold, respectively. The same concentrations of the extract increased CYP3A5 (1.3-3.6-fold) and P-glycoprotein (ABCB) 1 (2.7-6.4-fold) mRNA expression. At concentrations (5 and 10 microM) that did not down-regulate PXR gene expression and were not cytotoxic, L-sulforaphane (an hPXR antagonist) decreased CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and ABCB1 gene expression in cells treated with G. biloba extract. In summary, G. biloba extract activated mPXR and hPXR in a cell-based reporter gene assay and induced CYP3A4, CYP3A5, and ABCB1 gene expression in hPXR-expressing LS180 cells.
authors: Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, 2146 East Mall, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3.
authors: Eugene Y H
authors: EY
authors: Yeung
authors: Tatsuya
authors: T
authors: Sueyoshi
authors: Masahiko
authors: M
authors: Negishi
authors: Thomas K H
authors: TK
authors: Chang
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000187:drug effects; D018390:Gene Targeting; D020441:Ginkgo biloba / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000502:physiology; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D011987:Receptors, Steroid / Q000819:agonists* / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: C000625852:NR1I2 protein, human; C000625853:Nr1i2 protein, mouse; C000625854:Nr1i2 protein, rat; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000077297:Pregnane X Receptor; D011987:Receptors, Steroid