1. Sesquiterpenes, constituents of plant essential oil, are popular bioactive compounds due to the positive effect on human health, but their potential toxicity and possible herb-drug interactions are often omitted. In our in vivo study, we followed up the effect of p.o. administration of two sesquiterpenes β-caryophyllene oxide (CAO) and trans-nerolidol (NER) on various xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes in mice liver and small intestine. 2. To spot the early effect of studied compounds, enzymatic activity and mRNA levels were assessed 6 and 24 h after single dose. 3. CAO and NER markedly increased cytochromes P450 (CYP2B, 3A, 2C) activity and mRNA levels in both tissues. Liver also showed elevated activity of aldo-ketoreductase 1C and carbonyl reductase after treatment. Contrary, sesquiterpenes decreased NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 activity in small intestine. Among conjugation enzymes, only liver sulfotransferase activity was increased by sesquiterpenes. 4. Our results document that single dose of sesquiterpenes modulate activities and expression of several xenobiotic-metabolizing enzymes.
Keywords: Cytochrome P450; drug-metabolizing enzyme; enzyme induction; terpenes.