Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Mass Spectrometry and Luminogenic-based Approaches to Characterize Phase I Metabolic Competency of In Vitro Cell Cultures
Published on: March 28, 2017
In vitro interactions of water-soluble garlic components with human cytochromes p450
David J Greenblatt1, Richard A Leigh-Pemberton, Lisa L von Moltke
1Department of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, Tufts University School of Medicine and Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA. dj.greenblatt@tufts.edu
Abstract:
Eight water-soluble components of aged garlic extract were evaluated to assess their potential to inhibit the activity of human cytochrome-P450 (CYP) enzymes. The in vitro model consisted of human liver microsomes with index reactions chosen to profile the activity of the following six CYP isoforms: CYP1A2, 2B6, 2C9, 2C19, 2D6, and 3A. With only 2 exceptions, none of the 8 garlic components produced >50% inhibition even at high concentrations (100 micromol/L). S-methyl-L-cysteine and S-allyl-L-cysteine at 100 micromol/L produced modest inhibition of CYP3A, reducing activity to 20-40% of control. However available clinical evidence does not indicate CYP3A inhibition in vivo. The findings suggest that drug interactions involving inhibition of CYP3A enzymes by aged garlic extract are very unlikely.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Pharmacogenetics of Phase I Enzymes: Cytochrome P450 Isozymes
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Food and Drug–Viral Interactions
Pharmacokinetics: Drug–Drug Interactions
Drug Metabolism: Phase II Reactions
Methods for Studying Drug Absorption: In vitro
The diffusion cell method uses a two-compartment cell, including a donor compartment with the drug solution, which simulates the environment where the drug is applied, and a receptor compartment with a buffer solution, which simulates the environment...
Pharmacogenetics of Drug Metabolism: Overview

