OBJECTIVE:

To examine the effects of Panax notoginseng on the expression of cytochrome P450 (CYP) genes and glutathione S-trans-ferase (GST) genes in liver tissues of male SD rats.

METHOD:

Rats were administered P. notoginseng 2 or 4 g x kg(-1) bw/d by gavage daily for 14 days. The levels of gene expression of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2B1, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, CYP4A1, and GSTml, GST-pi were examined by quantitative real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (quantitative real time-RT-PCR) assays.

RESULT:

The expression of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2E1, CYP3A1, GSTml and GST-pi genes was not changed by 2 or 4 g x kg(-1) P. notoginseng treatment, But P. notoginseng significantly inhibited mRNA expressions of CYP2B1 (0.48-fold, P < 0.05, and 0.61-fold, P < 0.05, respectively) and CYP 4A1 (0.69-fold, and 0. 51-fold, respectively).

CONCLUSION:

P. notoginseng had a special inhibitory selectivity on the expression of CYP2B1 and CYP4A1 genes in liver tissues of rats, which indicated it may be one of the mechanisms of actions of P. notoginseng. P. notoginseng had no effects on the expressions of CYP1A1, CYP1A2, CYP2E1 and CYP3A1 genes, which suggested when P. notoginseng co-administrated with those drugs metabolized by the above major metabolizing enzymes in liver, metabolic herb-drug interactions would not be happened.