Planta Med 2019; 85(18): 1560
DOI: 10.1055/s-0039-3400128
Main Congress Poster
Poster Session 2
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

No clinically relevant interactions of St. John’s wort extract Ze 117 low in hyperforin with cytochrome P450 enzymes and P-glycoprotein

C Zahner
1   Max Zeller Soehne AG,, Romanshorn, Switzerland
,
E Kruttschnitt
1   Max Zeller Soehne AG,, Romanshorn, Switzerland
,
J Uricher
1   Max Zeller Soehne AG,, Romanshorn, Switzerland
,
M Lissy
2   Nuvisan GmbH,, Neu-Ulm, Germany
,
M Hirsch
2   Nuvisan GmbH,, Neu-Ulm, Germany
,
S Nicolussi
1   Max Zeller Soehne AG,, Romanshorn, Switzerland
,
S Krähenbühl
3   Division of Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, University Hospital,, Basel, Switzerland
,
J Drewe
1   Max Zeller Soehne AG,, Romanshorn, Switzerland
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
20 December 2019 (online)

 

Background Hypericum perforatum L. (St. John’s wort) is used to treat mild-to-moderate depression. Its potential safety risks are pharmacokinetic drug interactions via cytochrome P450 enzymes and P-glycoprotein, presumably caused by hyperforin.

Aims: In a phase I, open-label, non-randomized, single-sequence study, the low-hyperforin Hypericum extract Ze 117 was investigated using a drugs cocktail in 20 healthy volunteers.

Results No pharmacokinetic interactions of Ze 117 were observed for CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP3A4 and P-glycoprotein. AUC and Cmax of the used probe drugs showed 90%-confidence intervals of the geometric mean ratios of the drugs taken together with Ze 117 vs. probe drug alone well within the predefined bioequivalence range of 80% to 125%.

Though Ze 117 did not induce dextromethorphan metabolism by CYP2D6, it weakly increased dextromethorphan AUC ratio (mean 147.99, 95% CI 126.32-173.39) but not the corresponding metabolic ratio.

Conclusion Ze 117 does not show clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions with important CYPs and P-glycoprotein.