Changes in CYP2D enzyme activity following induction of type 2 diabetes, and administration of cinnamon and metformin: an experimental animal study

Abstract

1. Alterations in the activity of hepatic cytochrome P-450 isoenzymes result in changes in the pharmacokinetic behavior of drugs. This study was designed to explore the impact of type II diabetes, metformin and cinnamon on the activity of CYP2D isoenzyme.

2. Streptozotocin-nicotinamide-induced diabetic and normal rats were gavaged by cinnamon and/or metformin for 14 days. Using isolated perfusion of rat livers, the metabolic activity of CYP2D in the study groups was evaluated based on the oxidative biotransformation of tramadol hydrochloride.

3. The metabolic ratios of O-desmethyltramadol, the product of CYP2D-mediated metabolism of tramadol, in normal and diabetic control rats were found to be 0.33 ± 0.12 and 0.29 ± 0.07, respectively. Cinnamon significantly reduced the mentioned ratio in both normal and diabetic rats (0.13 ± 0.05 and 0.15 ± 0.04) and metformin increased the reduced activity in diabetic rats (0.37 ± 0.09 versus 0.29 ± 0.07).

4. In conclusion, it is evident that this study has shown the significant inhibitory effect of cinnamon on CYP2D. This finding suggests that it should be taken into consideration the possible metabolism-related pharmacokinetic drug–cinnamon interactions.

5. Additionally, type 2 diabetes condition reduced the enzyme activity and metformin consumption reversed this reduction; however, the significance of the latest is not clear.

Keywords:

• Cinnamon
• CYP2D
• cytochrome
• diabetes mellitus
• metformin
• tramadol
• type 2 diabetes

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

This work was fully supported by a grant from Tehran University of Medical Sciences.