Abstract
Synthetic cannabinoids developed by chemical modification are believed to bind to cannabinoid receptors and cause neurological effects similar to cannabis; however, their effects on drug metabolizing enzymes are unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the effect of synthetic cannabinoids on cytochrome P450 1A activity. Naphthoylindole, a basic structure of the major synthetic cannabinoids, strongly inhibited CYP1A activity in a competitive manner; the apparent Ki value was 0.40 μM. The N-Alkylated derivatives of naphthoylindole, MAM-2201 and JWH-019, also inhibited CYP1A activity in a concentration-dependent manner; however, their inhibitory effects were weaker than naphthoylindole. An adamantylamidoindole derivative, STS-135, showed inhibition of CYP1A activity in a concentrationdependent manner, but the adamantoylindole derivatives, AB-001 and AM-1248, did not. A tetramethylcyclopropanoylindole derivative, UR-144, showed a weak inhibition of CYP1A activity at high concentrations. These results suggest that synthetic cannabinoids and their basic molecules are capable of inhibiting CYP1A enzymatic activity.
