title: Cytochrome P450 3A4 and 2D6-mediated metabolism of leisure and medicinal teas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Thirty-five commercially available Camellia sinensis (black and green) and herbal leisure teas and an assortment of Traditional Chinese medicinal teas were randomly selected and examined for their potential to inhibit the drug metabolizing enzyme cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4). The study was then extended to examine CYP2D6*1 and CYP2D6*10.
  
  
  METHODS
  Microtiter fluorometric assays were utilized to examine the potential for the teas to inhibit CYP-mediated metabolism. Aqueous or alcoholic extracts of the dried tea plant material were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Most of the black and green leisure teas generally inhibited CYP3A4 more than the Chinese medicinal teas. The medicinal Chinese teas were generally more inhibitory towards CYP3A4 compared to the CYP2D6 isozymes, and the aqueous extracts displayed more potency than the alcoholic extracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tea whether used for leisure or medicinal purposes has the potential to inhibit CYP3A4-mediated drug metabolism particularly black tea.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada. 2 Centre for Research in Biopharmaceuticals and Biotechnology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Teresa W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saleem
authors.forename: John Thor
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Arnason
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krantis
authors.forename: Brian C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Foster
mesh_terms: D028241:Camellia sinensis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / Q000378:metabolism*; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013662:Tea / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D013662:Tea; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; D051544:Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A