Food-drug interactions: grapefruit juice

Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2011 Jan-Mar;115(1):245-50.

Abstract

Food-drug interactions are increasingly recognized as important clinical events which may change significantly the bioavailability of oral administrated drugs. Grapefruit juice (GFJ) demonstrated multiple interactions with drugs leading to loss of the therapeutic effects or increased side-effects. GFJ decreases pre-systemic metabolism through a) competitive or mechanism-based inhibition of gut wall CYP3A4 isoenzymes and b) P-glycoprotein (P-gp), c) multidrug resistance protein-2 (MRP2) or d) organic anion-transporting polypeptide (OATP) inhibition. Although, GFJ presents high amounts of flavonoids (e.g. naringin, naringenin), furanocoumarins (e.g. 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin, bergamottin) are the main chemicals involved in the pharmacokinetic interactions. As compounds of GFJ show additive or synergistic effects, all the major furanocoumarins are necessary for the maximal inhibitory effect. Also, related citrus fruits (sweeties, pummelo and sour orange) or various plants containing furanocoumarins may present pharmacological interactions, yet to be discovered.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B / drug effects
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / drug effects
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1 / metabolism
  • ATP-Binding Cassette Sub-Family B Member 4
  • Beverages*
  • Citrus paradisi*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / drug effects
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A / metabolism
  • Flavonoids / adverse effects
  • Food-Drug Interactions*
  • Furocoumarins / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Intestinal Absorption / drug effects*
  • Intestinal Mucosa / metabolism*

Substances

  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B
  • ATP Binding Cassette Transporter, Subfamily B, Member 1
  • Flavonoids
  • Furocoumarins
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP3A
  • CYP3A4 protein, human
  • bergamottin
  • 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin