title: In vitro activity of Lycium barbarum (Goji) against major human phase I metabolism enzymes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Goji berry (Lycium barbarum) has been used as traditional Chinese medicine and a functional food in China. Goji tea may interact with drugs such as warfarin by inhibiting the cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9, and this study was undertaken to characterize the effect of Goji products on CYP2C9/19-, CYP2D6 *1/*10-, CYP3A4/5/7-, CYP19-, and flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) 3-mediated metabolism.
  
  
  METHODS
  Goji juice, water, and ethanol extracts were examined for their effect on CYP2C9/19-, 2D6-, 3A4/5/7-, 4A11-, CYP19-, and FMO3-mediated metabolism by using in vitro bioassay. The mechanism-based inactivation (MBI) of Goji juice on CYP3A4 was also examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Data indicates that both fresh juice and commercially available juice caused strong inhibition (over 75 %) of most of the major CYP450 enzymes and moderate inhibition of FMO3 (30-60 %). Compared to juice, the Goji cold/hot water extracts effected low inhibition (below 30 %) of these enzymes. Ethanol (80 %) extracts exhibit the strongest inhibition on CYP2C9 and 2C19 (over 90 %). The inhibition pattern of dried and fresh berry extract and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-UV fingerprints were similar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that Goji products (berries, tea, tincture, and juice) can inhibit phase I drug metabolism enzymes and have the potential to affect the safety and efficacy of therapeutic products.
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Teresa W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Jingqin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salem
authors.forename: John T
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: D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism*; D005638:Fruit; D041743:Herb-Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D032305:Lycium; D050216:Metabolic Detoxication, Phase I; D010105:Oxygenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology*; D028321:Plant Preparations
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D028321:Plant Preparations; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D010105:Oxygenases; C020066:dimethylaniline monooxygenase (N-oxide forming)