Effect of Pomelo Juice on the Pharmacokinetics of Simvastatin, CYP3A2 Activity and Mdr1a, Mdr1b and Slc21a5 Expressions in Rats

Food-drug interaction can decrease drug effectiveness or increase risk of drug toxicity. Simvastatin is widely used for treatment of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of pomelo juice on the pharmacokinetics of simvastatin, CYP3a2 activity and Mdr1a, Mdr1b and Slc21a5 expressions in rats.

Rats were divided into 4 groups including (i) control, (ii) pomelo that received pomelo juice orally twice daily for 7 days, (iii) simvastatin that received simvastatin on day 8, and (iv) simvastatin + pomelo juice. Plasma concentrations of simvastatin and simvastatin acid were analyzed using LC-MS/MS. Hepatic CYP3a2 activity was evaluated using midazolam hydroxylation assay. The expressions of hepatic and intestinal Mdr1a, Mdr1b and Slc21a5 were measured using the real-time RT-PCR.

Oral administration of pomelo juice for 7 days altered pharmacokinetic profiles of simvastatin and its primary active metabolite, simvastatin acid, in rats. Real-time RTPCR analysis revealed that pomelo juice significantly suppressed the expression of intestinal Mdr1a and Mdr1b and hepatic Slc21a5. Rat hepatic CYP3a2 catalytic activity was also inhibited following pomelo juice administration.

The results of this study suggested that there was a risk of potential drug interaction associated with inhibition of drug transporters and CYP3A caused by pomelo juice.