Chloramphenicol is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes.

Article Details

Citation

Park JY, Kim KA, Kim SL

Chloramphenicol is a potent inhibitor of cytochrome P450 isoforms CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 in human liver microsomes.

Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2003 Nov;47(11):3464-9.

PubMed ID
14576103 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

The inhibitory effect of chloramphenicol on human cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms was evaluated with human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYPs. Chloramphenicol had a potent inhibitory effect on CYP2C19-catalyzed S-mephytoin 4'-hydroxylation and CYP3A4-catalyzed midazolam 1-hydroxylation, with apparent 50% inhibitory concentrations (inhibitory constant [K(i)] values are shown in parentheses) of 32.0 (7.7) and 48.1 (10.6) microM, respectively. Chloramphenicol also weakly inhibited CYP2D6, with an apparent 50% inhibitory concentration (K(i)) of 375.9 (75.8) microM. The mechanism of the drug interaction reported between chloramphenicol and phenytoin, which results in the elevation of plasma phenytoin concentrations, is clinically assumed to result from the inhibition of CYP2C9 by chloramphenicol. However, using human liver microsomes and cDNA-expressed CYPs, we showed this interaction arises from the inhibition of CYP2C19- not CYP2C9-catalyzed phenytoin metabolism. In conclusion, inhibition of CYP2C19 and CYP3A4 is the probable mechanism by which chloramphenicol decreases the clearance of coadministered drugs, which manifests as a drug interaction with chloramphenicol.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
ChloramphenicolCytochrome P450 2C19ProteinHumans
Unknown
Inhibitor
Details
ChloramphenicolCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Inhibitor
Details
Drug Interactions
DrugsInteraction
Amobarbital
Chloramphenicol
The metabolism of Amobarbital can be decreased when combined with Chloramphenicol.
Butabarbital
Chloramphenicol
The metabolism of Butabarbital can be decreased when combined with Chloramphenicol.
Butalbital
Chloramphenicol
The metabolism of Butalbital can be decreased when combined with Chloramphenicol.
Cyclosporine
Chloramphenicol
The serum concentration of Cyclosporine can be increased when it is combined with Chloramphenicol.
Fosphenytoin
Chloramphenicol
The serum concentration of Fosphenytoin can be increased when it is combined with Chloramphenicol.