• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 2004

One mechanism which plays a prominent role in development of multi-drug resistance seen in cancer cells is the over-expression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). It is known that compounds found in vegetables and fruits not only have anticarcinogenic properties but may also modulate P-gp activity. The effect of some dietary components on efflux of daunomycin (DNM), a P-gp substrate, was examined in P-gp over-expressed human uterine sarcoma cell line, MES-SA/DX5. The efflux of DNM from the cells was significantly inhibited by quercetin and verapamil, but not by 1-naphtyl-isothiocyanate (NITC). The $IC_{50}$ values for DNM in MES-SA/DX5 cells were increased by flavonoids (quercetin and fisetin), but not by NITC after 72 hour incubation with dietary constituents. In conclusion, flavonoids may play a role in the modulation of P­-gp activity in human uterine sarcoma cells.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.85-88
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• 2004

One hundred Indonesian plant extracts were screened to investigate their effects on the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) activity in human uterine sarcoma cells, MES-SA/DX5, for the first time. Among others, four samples, Alpinia galanga (BuOH ext.), Sindora sumatrana $(CHCl_3\;ext.)$, Strychnos ligustrina $(CHCl_3\;ext.)$, and Zingiber cassumunar Roxb (hexane ext.), exhibited the most potent inhibition on the P-gp activity. They increased cytotoxic activity of daunomycin up to $IC_{50}$ values of less than $1.41\;{\mu}M$, which is a value with a positive control, verapamil. Other 25 samples showed significant P-gp inhibitory activity with $IC_{50}$ values between 1.4 and $4.0\;{\mu}M$. These prospective samples will be subjected to further laboratory phytochemical investigation to find active principles.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.68-72
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• 2014

When chemotherapy is administered during pregnancy, it is important to consider the fetus chemotherapy exposure, because it may lead to fetal consequences. Paclitaxel has become widely used in the metastatic and adjuvant settings for woman with cancer including breast and ovarian cancer. Therefore, we attempted to clarify the transport mechanisms of paclitaxel through blood-placenta barrier using rat conditionally immortalized syncytiotrophoblast cell lines (TR-TBTs). The uptake of paclitaxel was time- and temperature-dependent. Paclitaxel was eliminated about 50% from the cells within 30 min. The uptake of paclitaxel was saturable with $K_m$ of $168{\mu}M$ and $371{\mu}M$ in TR-TBT 18d-1 and TR-TBT 18d-2, respectively. [$^3H$]Paclitaxel uptake was markedly inhibited by cyclosporine and verapamil, well-known substrates of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter. However, several MRP substrates and organic anions had no effect on [$^3H$]paclitaxel uptake in TR-TBT cells. These results suggest that P-gp may be involved in paclitaxel transport at the placenta. TR-TBT cells expressed mRNA of P-gp. These findings are important for therapy of breast and ovarian cancer of pregnant women, and should be useful data in elucidating teratogenicity of paclitaxel during pregnancy.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.249-254
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• 2005

Multidrug resistance (MDR) of cancer cells is, at least in part, associated with the overexpression of P-glycoprotein (P-gp). Many studies have demonstrated that natural compounds obtained from fruits, vegetables, teas and medicinal plants may modulate P-gp activity. The objective of the present investigation was to examine the effect of seven natural compounds on the P-gp activity in human uterine sarcoma cell line, MES-SA/DX5. Daunomycin uptake was significantly increased by biochanin A and silymarin (p<0.0001) whereas it was reduced by morin (p<0.01). The efflux of daunomycin from the cells was significantly inhibited by biochanin A, morin, cephalotaxine, berberine (p<0.05) and silymarin (p<0.0001). Biochanin A, berberine and silymarin significantly decreased $IC_{50}$ value of daunomycin (p<0.05) while morin increased it (p<0.05). These results suggest that some natural compounds such as biochanin A and silymarin may inhibit P-gp function and can be developed as MDR reversing agents to improve the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs when administered concomitantly.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.18 no.9
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• pp.1244-1248
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• 2008

P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a very important drug transporter, which plays an important role in drug disposition and represents an additional mechanism for the development of multidrug resistance. Flavonoids, a major class of natural compounds widely present in foods and herbal products, have been shown to be P-gp inhibitors. The objective of the present study was to identify new chemosensitizer candidates through the screening of various herbal extracts. The inhibitory effects of herbal extracts on P-gp activity were assessed by measuring accumulation of calcein AM using P-gp overexpressed L-MDR1 cells. Curcuma longa showed the most potent inhibition on P-gp function. The inhibitory potential of P-gp was in the order: Curcuma longa > Curcuma aromatica > Ageratum conizoids > Zanthoxylum planispinum > Zedoariae rhizome > Rakta chandan > Dalbergia odorifera > Caesalpinia Sappan > Aloe ferox. To identify individual constituents with inhibitory activity, the herbal extracts were analyzed by LC/MS/MS. Several flavonoids such as curcumin, a well-known P-gp inhibitor, were identified through mass spectral library search. These in vitro data indicate that herbal extracts contain constituents that can potently inhibit the activities of P-gp and suggest that these herbal extracts should be examined for potential chemosensitizer in vivo.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2016

Background: We evaluated the drug interaction profile of Red Ginseng (RG) with respect to the activities of major cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes and the drug transporter P-glycoprotein (P-gp) in healthy Korean volunteers. Methods: This article describes an open-label, crossover study. CYP probe cocktail drugs, caffeine, losartan, dextromethorphan, omeprazole, midazolam, and fexofenadine were administered before and after RG supplementation for 2 wk. Plasma samples were collected, and tolerability was assessed. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated, and 90% confidence intervals (CIs) of the geometric mean ratios of the parameters were determined from logarithmically transformed data using analysis of variance after RG administration versus before RG administration. Results: Fourteen healthy male participants were evaluated, none of whom were genetically defined as poor CYP2C9, 2C19, and CYP2D6 metabolizers based on genotyping. Before and after RG administration, the geometric least-square mean metabolic ratio (90% CI) was 0.870 (0.805-0.940) for caffeine to paraxanthine (CYP1A2), 0.871 (0.800-0.947) for losartan (CYP2C9) to EXP3174, 1.027 (0.938-1.123) for omeprazole (CYP2C19) to 5-hydroxyomeprazole, 1.373 (0.864-2.180) for dextromethorphan to dextrorphan (CYP2D6), and 0.824 (0.658-1.032) for midazolam (CYP3A4) to 1-hydroxymidazolam. The geometric mean ratio of the area under the curve of the last sampling time ($AUC_{last}$) for fexofenadine (P-gp) was 0.963 (0.845-1.098). Administration of concentrated RG for 2 wk weakly inhibited CYP2C9 and CYP3A4 and weakly induced CYP2D6. However, no clinically significant drug interactions were observed between RG and CYP and P-gp probe substrates. Conclusion: RG has no relevant potential to cause CYP enzyme- or P-gp-related interactions.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.305-310
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• 2003

One of the possible mechanisms of multi-drug resistance found in cancer cells is the over-expression of P­glycoprotein (P-gp). Studies have shown that compounds in plants including vegetables and fruits not only have anticancer activities but may also modulate P-gp activity. The effect of flavonoids and organic isothiocyanate on P-gp activity was studied in human uterine sarcoma cell lines, MES-SA (sensitive) and MES-SA/DX5 (resistant) cells. The accumulation of daunomycin (DNM), a P-gp substrate, was approximately 10 times greater in the sensitive cell as compared to the resistant cells over the entire time course (up to 2 hours). The positive control, verapamil increased the two hour accumulation of DNM while quercetin decreased that of DNM in the resistant cells. 1-Naphtyl-isothiocyanate (NITC) showed no effect on the two hour accumulation of DNM. The $IC_{50}$ values for DNM in the resistant cells was about 20 times higher than that observed in the sensitive cells $(10.1{\pm}1.7\;{\mu}M\;vs.\;0.58{\pm}0.28\;{\mu}M)$. Verapamil reduced the $IC_{50}$ value for DNM whereas flavonoids (quercetin and fisetin) increased those for DNM in the resistant cells.

• Journal of Integrative Natural Science
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.205-210
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• 2013

Human P-gp is a protein responsible for the multidrug resistance (MDR) and causes failure of cancer chemotherapy. Till date no X-ray crystal structure is reported for this membrane protein, which hampers active research in the field. We performed homology modeling to develop three dimensional (3D) model of P-gp, and docking studies of the verapamil and curcumin have been performed to gain insight into the interaction mechanism between inhibitors and P-gp. It was identified that the inhibitors docked into the upper part of P-gp and interacted through the hydrophobic interactions.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.131-135
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• 2007

A previous report recently demonstrated that ultrasound-induced hyperthermia (USHT:0.4 watts (W)/$cm^2$ at $41^{\circ}C$) could increase cellular uptake of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) substrates in P-gp expressing cancer cell lines. Since P-gp plays a major role in limiting drug permeability in the multi-drug resistant (MDR) cells, studies were conducted to elucidate the mechanism of USHT on cellular accumulation of P-gp and non-P-gp substrate in MDR cells. To accomplish this aim, we studied the effects of USHT on the accumulation of P-gp substrate, R123 and non-P-gp substrate, antipyrine in MDR cells. We demonstrated that USHT increased permeability of hydrophobic molecules (R123 and $[^{14}C]$-antipyrine). The enhanced permeability is reversible and size-dependent as USHT produces a much larger effect on cellular accumulation of $[^{14}C]$-antipyrine (MW 188) than that of R123 (MW 380.8). These results suggest that USHT could affect MDR cells more sensitive than BBMECs. Also, the present results point to the potential use of USHT to increase cellular uptake of P-gp recognized substrates, mainly anti-cancer agents into cancer cells.

• Journal of Pharmaceutical Investigation
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.269-275
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• 2010

P-gp plays a critical role in drug disposition and represents a mechanism for the development of multidrug resistance. Flavonoids, a major class of natural compounds widely present in foods and herbal products, have been shown to inhibit P-gp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify new candidate chemosensitizers by screening various plant extracts. The ability of natural plant extracts to inhibit P-gp activity was assessed by measuring cellular accumulation of calcein AM, daunorubicin and vincristine in P-gp overexpressing MDCKII-MDR1 cells. Among more than 800 plant extracts, eight were found to inhibit P-gp activity. Curcuma aromatica extract produced greatest inhibition, followed by Curcuma longa and Dalbergia odorifera extracts. Extracts of Aloe ferox, Curcuma zedoariae rhizome, Zanthoxylum planispinum, and Ageratum conyzoides showed moderate inhibitory effects. Curcumin and quercetin exhibited similar inhibition of P-gpmediated efflux of daunorubicin and vincristine, and flavones had a lesser effect. When chemosensitizing effect was evaluated by measuring daunorubicin sensitivity to MDCKII-MDR1 cells in the presence of natural plant extracts, Curcuma aromatica showed the most potent chemosensitizing effect based on daunorubicin cytotoxicity. In conclusion, natural plant extracts such as Curcuma aromatica can potently inhibit P-gp activity and may have potential as a novel chemosensitizers.