TABLE 1

Examples of recommended in vitro probe substrates and inhibitors for P450s (adapted from Tucker et al., 2001)


P450

Substrates

Inhibitorsa
Preferred
Acceptable
Preferred
Acceptable
CYP1A2 Ethoxyresorufin, phenacetin Caffeine (low turnover), theophylline (low turnover), acetanilide (mostly applied in hepatocytes), methoxyresorufin Furafylline α-Naphthoflavone (but can also activate and inhibit CYP3A4)
CYP2A6 Coumarin 8-Methoxypsoralen Coumarin (but high turnover), Sertraline (but also inhibits CYP2D6)
CYP2B6 S-Mephenytoin (N-desmethyl metabolite) Bupropion (availability of metabolite standards?)
CYP2C8 Paclitaxel (availability of standards?) Glitazones (availability of standards?)
CYP2C9 S-Warfarin, diclofenac Tolbutamide (low turnover) Sulphaphenazole
CYP2C19 S-Mephenytoin (4-hydroxy metabolite), omeprazole Ticlopidine (but also inhibits CYP2D6), nootkatone (but also inhibits CYP2A6)
CYP2D6 Bufuralol dextromethorphan Metoprolol, debrisoquine, codeine (all with no problems, but less commonly used) Quinidine
CYP2E1 Chlorzoxazone 4-Nitrophenol, lauric acid Clomethiazole 4-Methyl pyrazole
CYP3A
Midazolam, testosterone (strongly recommended that at least two structurally unrelated substrates be used)
Nifedipine, felodipine, cyclosporin A, terfenadine, erythromycin, simvastatin
Ketoconazole (but recent evidence indicates that it is also a potent inhibitor of CYP2C8), troleandomycin
Cyclosporin A
  • a Specific inhibitory antibodies may also be used.