title: Effects of Hypericum perforatum extract and its main bioactive compounds on the cytotoxicity and expression of CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 in hepatic cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hypericum perforatum (H. perforatum) is one of the most used medicinal plants. However, it has been associated with relevant interactions with several drugs. This situation is probably mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP450), namely the 1A2 (CYP1A2) and 2D6 (CYP2D6) isoforms This study aims to assess the cytotoxic and CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 inductive and/or inhibitory effects of a H. perforatum extract and its main bioactive components in hepatic cell lines.
  
  
  METHODS
  A MTT proliferation assay was performed in WRL-68, HepG2 and HepaRG cells after exposition to different concentrations of H. perforatum extract, hypericin and hyperforin for 24 and 72 h. Then, a real-time PCR analysis was accomplished after incubating the cells with these products evaluating the relative CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 expression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  These products have relevant cytotoxicity at a 10 μM concentration and it was also demonstrated for the first time that H. perforatum can lead to a significant CYP1A2 and CYP2D6 induction in all cell lines. Moreover, hypericin seems to induce CYP1A2 in HepG2 cells and to inhibit its expression in HepaRG cells while hyperforin induced CYP1A2 in HepG2 and in WRL-68 cells. Additionally, hypericin and hyperforin induce CYP2D6 in HepG2 cells but inhibits its expression in HepaRG and in WRL-68 cells.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study not only evidenced that H. perforatum extract and two of its bioactive components can have toxic effects in hepatic cell lines but also emphasized the potential risk of the consumption of H. perforatum with CYP1A2- and CYP2D6-metabolized drugs.
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martinho
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ivo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; CNC - Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silvestre
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Luiza Breitenfeld
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Granadeiro
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; CNC - Centre for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana Paula
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Duarte
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Domingues
authors.affiliation: CICS-UBI - Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal. Electronic address: egallardo@fcsaude.ubi.pt.
authors.forename: Eugenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gallardo
mesh_terms: D000873:Anthracenes; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D019388:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004790:Enzyme Induction / Q000187:drug effects; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D020902:Hypericum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010569:Perylene / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D010696:Phloroglucinol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D065607:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme Inhibitors; D010936:Plant Extracts; D012334:RNA, Neoplasm; D013729:Terpenes; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; D010569:Perylene; C004965:hypericin; D010696:Phloroglucinol; C504573:CYP1A2 protein, human; D019388:Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6; C022616:thiazolyl blue; C001654:hyperforin
keywords: CYP1A2; CYP2D6; Hepatic cells; Herb-drug interactions; Hyperforin; Hypericin; Hypericum perforatum