Metabolism of epinastine, a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, in human liver microsomes in comparison with that of terfenadine.

Article Details

Citation

Kishimoto W, Hiroi T, Sakai K, Funae Y, Igarashi T

Metabolism of epinastine, a histamine H1 receptor antagonist, in human liver microsomes in comparison with that of terfenadine.

Res Commun Mol Pathol Pharmacol. 1997 Dec;98(3):273-92.

PubMed ID
9485522 [ View in PubMed
]
Abstract

Epinastine is a non-sedative second-generation antiallergic drug, like terfenadine. In the present study, the metabolism of epinastine in human liver microsomes was investigated and compared with that of terfenadine. Terfenadine was extensively metabolized to terfenadine acid with a Km value of 1.78 microM, a Vmax value of 173.8 pmol/min/mg and a metabolic clearance (Vmax/Km) of 103.9. Epinastine, in contrast, was poorly metabolized by microsomes from the same source with a high Km value of 232 microM. Metabolic clearance of epinastine was only 0.832, which was lower by three orders of magnitude than that of terfenadine. Studies with microsomes expressing recombinant cytochrome P450 (CYP) species revealed that the CYP isoforms responsible for epinastine metabolism are CYP3A4, 2D6 and (to a minor extent) 2B6. Epinastine and terfenadine had no effect on CYP1A2 (theophylline 1-demethylation), 2C8/9 (tolbutamide hydroxylation) or 2E1 (chlorzoxazone 6-hydroxylation) activity, but weakly inhibited CYP2D6 (debrisoquine 4-hydroxylation) activity. CYP3A4 (testosterone 6 beta-hydroxylation) activity was strongly inhibited by terfenadine with a Ki value of 25 microM, whereas epinastine had no effect at up to 100 microM. Thus, epinastine is very poorly metabolized compared to terfenadine in human liver microsomes and does not inhibit CYP3A4 activity in vitro, unlike terfenadine.

DrugBank Data that Cites this Article

Drug Targets
DrugTargetKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
TerfenadineHistamine H1 receptorProteinHumans
Yes
Antagonist
Details
Drug Enzymes
DrugEnzymeKindOrganismPharmacological ActionActions
EpinastineCytochrome P450 2B6ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
EpinastineCytochrome P450 2D6ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Inhibitor
Details
EpinastineCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Details
TerfenadineCytochrome P450 2D6ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Inhibitor
Details
TerfenadineCytochrome P450 3A4ProteinHumans
Unknown
Substrate
Inhibitor
Details