Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 20, 2026

Invasive Hemodynamic Characterization of the Portal-hypertensive Syndrome in Cirrhotic Rats
Published on: August 1, 2018
Effects of huperzine A on liver cytochrome P-450 in rats
Xiao-Chao Ma1, Hai-Xue Wang, Jian Xin
1State Key Laboratory of Drug Research, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.
Aim:
To predict possible drug interaction and assure safety medication of huperzine A (HupA).
Methods:
The effects of HupA on activities and expressions of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) were examined. Liver microsomes and total mRNA were prepared from rats treated orally with 0, 0.1 (pharmacological dose), 1, or 2 mg/kg huperzine A for 2 weeks. Phenobarbital, 3-methylcholanthrene (3-MC), ethanol, and dexamethasone were used as positive controls. Total CYP protein was assayed by carbon monoxide difference spectrum. Activity of isoenzyme was detected with specific probe. Expression of CYP protein and mRNA was analyzed with Western blot and RT-PCR.
Results:
No changes of isoenzyme expression and catalytic activities were found in rats treated with 0.1 mg/kg huperzine A. Huperzine A 1, 2 mg/kg parallelly increased CYP1A2 activity, protein and mRNA, although they were minor when contrasted with 3-MC. Huperzine A 1, 2 mg/kg got no effects on CYP2C11, CYP2B1/2, 2E1 and 3A.
Conclusion:
Activity and expression of liver CYP isoenzymes were not affected in rats treated with pharmacological dose of HupA, but HupA at toxicological dose may elicit a slight inductive response of CYP1A2. The CYP1A2 induction produced by HupA is related to transcription enhancement.
Related Concept Videos
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Drug Dosing and Hepatic Blood Flow
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Pathophysiologic Assessment and Liver Function Test
Pharmacogenetics of Phase I Enzymes: Cytochrome P450 Isozymes
Effect of Hepatic Disease on Pharmacokinetics: Active Drug, Metabolite and Fraction of Metabolized Drug
Hepatic Encephalopathy
Drug Metabolism: Phase I Reactions
