Effects of Kaempferia galanga L. and ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate (EPMC)

Abstract

Kaempferia galanga L. (K. galanga L.), belonging to the Zingiberaceae family, has been widely used in Thai traditionalmedicine for treatment of hypertension, asthma, rheumatism, indigestion, cold and headache and relief abdominal pain.This study aimed to investigate the effect of dichloromethane extract of K. galanga L. (DEK) and its major component ethylp-methoxycinnamate (EPMC) on hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450s enzyme activities in mice. After oral administrationwith DEK (100 mg/kg which is equivalent to EPMC 80 mg/kg), EPMC (120 and 160 mg/kg) for 28 consecutive days, themicrosomal P450 content decreased. The CYP1A1 and CYP2B activities significantly increased, whereas CYP2E1 activity wassignificant inhibited only at the highest concentration of EPMC (160 mg/kg). None of the treatments did affect CYP1A2 andCYP3A4 activity when compared to the control group. The results indicated that K. galanga L. and its active compound,EPMC may participate in herbal-drug interaction and may also increase risk of toxicity and chemical carcinogenesis fromdrugs and compounds that are metabolized via CYP1A1, CYP2B and CYP2E1.

Keywords

• Kaempferia galanga L.
• ethyl-p-methoxycinnamate
• cytochrome P450
• CYP
• microsome
• herbal-drug interactio