Inhibition of hepatic uptake of bile acids by rifamycins

Summary The effect of rifamycin SV and rifampicin on hepatic bile acid uptake was studied using isolated rat hepatocytes in presence and in absence of albumin. The drugs inhibited cholate uptake more than taurocholate uptake and the inhibition was of non-competitive type. In presence of 3% albumin the inhibitory effect of the drugs was more for cholate and less for taurocholate uptake than in absence of albumin. Neither the binding of bile acids nor that of the drugs to albumin was altered by one another. Thus the effect in presence of albumin cannot be explained by the binding of the drugs and bile acids to albumin alone. It is suggested that albumin interacts with hepatic bile acid uptake process and this interaction with cholate uptake is different from that with taurocholate uptake. This additional and different effect of albumin may explain the effect of the drugs in presence of albumin. The results may be of clinical significance in rifamycins treatments.Part of this publication was presented in the 18th Frühjahrstagung der Deutschen Pharmakologischen Gesellschaft (1977)     

Inhibition of some rat hepatic microsomal enzymes by ethoxyquin

Administration of single intragastric doses of ethoxyquin (500 mg/kg) to rats dramatically increased the hexobarbitone sleeping time. Conversely, dietary administration of ethoxyquin (0.5% w/w) for 14 days led to a 50 per cent decrease in the hexobarbitone sleeping time. Single doses of ethoxyquin had little effect on hepatic mixed function oxidase activity. Ethoxyquin was shown to be a potent competitive inhibitor of rat hepatic microsomal biphenyl 4-hydroxylase and ethylmorphine N-demethylase in vitro (K_i = 4.3 × 10^?6 M and 6.0 × 10^?6 M respectively) and displayed a type 1 binding spectrum with cytochrome P-450 with a very high affinity (K_s = 1.06 × 10^?5 M). Ethoxyquin had no inhibitory effect on the activity of glucose-6-phosphatase in vitro.     

Inhibition of hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation by endogenous glycogen in the rat

The effect of endogenous glycogen on lipid peroxidation was examined in hepatic microsomes from rats. Microsomes were prepared to retain endogenous hepatic glycogen (Pg+) or to minimize it (Pg-). The indices of lipid peroxidation examined included the rate of NADPH-dependent formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the concomitant destruction of cytochrome P-450 and decline in the linearity of benzphetamine N-demethylase activity in microsomes. Cytochrome P-450 was destroyed during benzphetamine N-demethylation in microsomes with the loss being more extensive in Pg- than in Pg+. The destruction of cytochrome P-450 and the concomitant loss in linearity of benzphetamine N-demethylation in Pg- were prevented by added EDTA. Added linoleic acid hydroperoxide (LAHP) also caused a time-dependent loss of cytochrome P-450 in microsomes with the rate being greater in Pg- than in Pg+. The results show that glycogen inhibits hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation and suggest that variations in glycogen content may contribute to disparities in in vitro oxidative activities between different microsomal samples. Such disparities may be minimized by the removal of glycogen during the preparation of microsomes and then supplementing the incubation mixtures with EDTA. The in vivo relevance of the observed antioxidant effect of glycogen is discussed in terms of the possible modulation by the polysaccharide of hepatotoxicity by agents whose effects may be mediated by lipid peroxidation.     

Effects of cyclophosphamide and adriamycin on rat hepatic microsomal glucuronidation and lipid peroxidation.

The effect of cytotoxic drug administration, as a single dose i.p. to rats (six rats/treatment group), on hepatic microsomal UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) activity was investigated. Glucuronidation of morphine in microsomes from control rats apparently involved at least two enzymes. Administration of cyclophosphamide (CP; 200 mg/kg 7 days prior to killing) significantly increased the rate of morphine glucuronidation over the range 0.05-10 mM, and significantly increased the apparent Vmax for the high capacity isoenzyme from 1.25 +/- 0.12 to 1.95 +/- 0.39 nmol/mg/min. In contrast, the activity of 1-naphthol UGT was not significantly altered by administration of CP. Rats treated with the same dose of CP 1 day prior to killing showed a significant decrease in microsomal morphine-UGT activity at 0.05 and 2.5 mM morphine, but a significant increase in activity was observed following administration of CP or Adriamycin (AD; 10 mg/kg) 4 days prior to killing. The extent of microsomal lipid peroxidation was significantly increased in microsomes obtained from rats treated with CP or AD 4 days prior to killing, and was positively correlated (P less than 0.001) with the rate of glucuronidation of 0.05 and 2.5 mM morphine. Preincubation of microsomes in the presence of CP (5 mM) and AD (100 microM) significantly decreased the rate of glucuronidation of 2.5 mM morphine. In vitro NADPH-mediated lipid peroxidation significantly increased the activity of both the high and low affinity morphine-UGT isoenzymes. Administration of the cytotoxic drugs CP and AD may alter microsomal morphine-UGT activity via the process of lipid peroxidation, although other mechanisms cannot be excluded.     

Inhibition of hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes by imperatorin

The effect of imperatorin on hepatic microsomal mixed function oxidases (MFO) was investigated. On acute treatment, imperatorin (30 mg/kg, i.p.) caused a significant reduction in activities of hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase, hexobarbital hydroxylase and aniline hydroxylase as well as cytochrome p-450 content in rats and mice. Kinetic studies on rat liver enzymes revealed that imperatorin appeared to be a competitive inhibitor of aminopyrine N-demethylase (Ki, 0.007 mM), whereas a non-competitive inhibitor of hexobarbital hydroxylase (Ki, 0.0148mM). Imperatorin also inhibited non-competitively aniline metabolism (Ki, 0.2mM). Imperatorin binds to phenobarbital-induced cytochrome p-450 to give a typical type 1 binding spectrum (max. 388nm, min 422nm). Multiple administrations of imperatorin (30 mg/kg, i.p. daily for 7 days) to mice shortened markedly the duration of hexobarbital narcosis and increased activities of hepatic aminopyrine N-demethylase and hexobarbital hydroxylase and the level of cytochrome p-450 whereas aniline hydroxylase activity was unaffected.     

Inhibition and metabolite complexation of rat hepatic microsomal cytochrome P450 by tricyclic antidepressants.

Administration of imipramine (IMIP) and other tricyclic antidepressants to humans and experimental animals has been associated with inhibition of hepatic cytochrome P450 (P450)-mediated drug oxidation. This study investigated the capacity of several structurally related tricyclic antidepressants to inhibit microsomal P450 activity in vitro. It was found that IMIP, desipramine (DES), amitriptyline (AMIT) and nortriptyline (NOR) were poor inhibitors of P450 activity unless they were preincubated with microsomes and NADPH prior to transfer to flasks containing substrate. Thus, subsequent experiments characterized the time-dependent intensification of inhibition produced by the drugs. Preincubation of the N-methylaminoalkyl agents DES and NOR (200 microM) with NADPH-supplemented microsomes for 30 min led to an approximate 30% decrease in spectrally apparent P450 content; the N,N-dimethylaminoalkyl drugs IMIP and AMIT did not significantly decrease apparent P450 content. Analysis of optical difference spectra of microsomes during NADPH-mediated metabolism of these drugs revealed a prominent increase in absorbance at 454 nm with DES and NOR but not IMIP or AMIT. Monospecific antibodies to the male-specific P450 2C11 and, to a lesser extent, P450 3A2 were effective in preventing the formation of the DES metabolite 454 nm-Soret peak. In addition, the 454 nm absorbance was not produced by the incubation of DES with NADPH-fortified hepatic microsomes from adult female or immature male rats. Studies with the steroid substrate testosterone, which undergoes P450-specific positional hydroxylation, indicated that P450 2C11-mediated 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylation were most susceptible to the time-dependent intensification of inhibition produced by DES (8.5 and 7.0 min preincubation required for loss of 50% activity, respectively) and NOR (4.0 and 4.0 min for loss of 50% of both activities). The 6 beta- (P450 3A2) and 7 alpha-hydroxylase (P450 2A1) pathways were somewhat less susceptible to inhibition than 2 alpha- and 16 alpha-hydroxylation. These findings suggest that DES and NOR form a metabolite intermediate (MI)-complex, characterized by a Soret region absorbance maximum near 454 nm in the optical difference spectrum, with microsomal P450 in male rat liver in vitro. Studies with the steroid substrate testosterone as well as immunoinhibition experiments are consistent with the proposition that this MI complex forms principally with the male-specific enzymes P450 2C11 and 3A2. Although a human orthologue of P450 2C11 has not yet been identified, P450s of the 3A subfamily are quantitatively important enzymes in human liver. MI complexation of such enzymes could be a feasible underlying mechanism for certain clinically important drug interactions involving tricyclic antidepressants.     

Inhibition of human glutathione S-transferases by bile acids

Glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoenzymes isolated from various human tissues are differentially inhibited by bile acids. Trihydroxy bile acid (lithocholate) was found to be more inhibitory to all the human GST isoenzymes tested in this study, as compared to the monohydroxy (cholate) and dihydroxy (chenodeoxycholate) bile acids. Among the three major classes of GST, mu class isoenzymes are generally inhibited to a greater extent than the alpha and pi class isoenzymes. The results of this study also indicate that differential inhibition of GST by various bile acids may be used to distinguish closely related GST isoenzymes within the mu class of GST isoenzyme. Likewise, the pi class or the anionic isoenzymes of human kidney, placenta, and erythrocytes can be distinguished using bile acid inhibition studies. These studies also provide further support for tissue-specific expression of GST isoenzymes in humans.     

急性实验性肝损伤对大鼠酮洛芬Ⅱ相代谢和胆排泄的影响

目的探讨通过酮洛芬(KP)代谢参数的变化分析肝脏功能的可能性。方法以KP为工具药,用四氯化碳(CCl_4)和α-萘异硫氰酸酯(ANIT)建立急性肝损伤大鼠模型。体内实验,KP 20 mg·kg~(-1)iv后,测定大鼠血浆、胆汁中KP及其Ⅱ相代谢物酮洛芬葡萄糖醛酸结合物(S-KPG和R-KPG)。体外微粒体孵育实验,测定KP葡萄糖醛酸化反应v_(max)和K_m。结果体内实验结果显示,与对照组相比,CCl_4肝损伤模型大鼠KPG累计胆排泄率降低[(54±18)% vs (90±7)%],ANIT肝损伤模型大鼠的KPG胆排泄几乎完全被抑制[(4.9±2.0)%]。与对照组比,CCl_4和ANIT肝损伤模型组KP药动学参数lgAUC_(0～∞)增加[(5.26±0.19),(5.05±0.10) vs (4.67±0.07)]、~t1/2β延长[(284.2±150.0),(129.0±37.0)min vs (67.8±21.7)min]、清除率降低[(0.046±0.019),(0.080±0.011)mL·min~(-1) vs (0.169±0.026)mL·min~(-1)],血浆KPG浓度明显升高。与对照组比较,ANIT肝损伤模型组血浆S-KPG的AUC_(0～∞)增高了约10倍。微粒体孵育试验表明,与对照组比,CCl_4和ANIT肝损伤模型组大鼠肝脏葡萄糖醛酸转移酶活性有轻至中度降低,v_(max):(0.9±0.5),(1.1±0.6)mmol·g~(-1)·min~(-1) vs (2.9±0.9)mmol·g~(-1)·min~(-1);K_m:(6.8±1.6),(5.4±1.5)mmol·L~(-1) vs (13.6±1.2)mmol·L~(-1)。结论急性肝损伤时KP药代动力学参数发生改变,说明可以通过考察KP的动力学参数的变化,尤其是lgAUC_(0～∞),t_(1/2β),清除率和KPGs累计胆排泄率,来反映肝功能情况。     

Induction of the rat hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidases by cimetidine

The ability of cimetidine to induce the hepatic microsomal mixed-function oxidases was investigated in rats treated orally with the drug at 3 dose levels: 10, 100 and 500 mg/kg. At the highest dose only, cimetidine stimulated the dealkylations of ethoxyresorufin, ethoxycoumarin and pentoxyresorufin but inhibited that of erythromycin and had no effect on the demethylation of dimethylnitrosamine. At the highest dose cimetidine had a small effect on the activation of Glu-P-1 to mutagens in the Ames test but induced proteins recognised in Western blots by antibodies to P450 I A1 and P450 II B1. It is concluded that cimetidine is a weak selective inducer of cytochrome P-450 forms, but at therapeutic doses its inductive effect is most unlikely to be of any clinical or toxicological consequence.     

Inhibition of hepatic microsomal drug metabolism by the immunosuppressive agent cyclosporin A

Cyclosporin A (CsA), an orally active immunosuppressive agent, was shown to inhibit cytochrome P-450 dependent biotransformation of drugs in the mouse. It competitively inhibited the hydroxylation of benzo[a]pyrene and the N-demethylation of aminopyrine in hepatic microsomes with Ki values of 93 and 1540 microM respectively. This selective inhibition for benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase by CsA was substantiated in vivo by selective inhibition of total body clearance of theophylline, but not of antipyrine. CsA was itself N-demethylated by hepatic microsomes with a Km of 808 microM. CsA interacted directly with cytochrome P-450, causing a reverse type I spectral change in hepatic microsomes. No metabolic intermediate complexes could be demonstrated. These results suggest that CsA has the potential to cause drug interactions involving inhibition of drug biotransformation, particularly of drugs that are metabolised by the same types of cytochrome P-450 which oxidise benzo[a]pyrene and theophylline.     

Inhibition of acetaminophen glucuronidation by oxazepam

Glucuronidation of [³H]acetaminophen (pHAA) in mouse liver microsomes is enhanced about 3-fold by 0.025% Triton X-100. Oxazepam inhibits microsomal glucuronidation of pHAA, yielding apparent competitive kinetics in native microsomes. Phenobarbital-pretreatment has no effect on the microsomal glucuronidation of pHAA. MH₁C₁ rat hepatoma cells also glucuronidate pHAA, approximately 40 nmoles per mg cell protein per hr being conjugated at a concentration ol 1 mM. Oxazepam also inhibits pHAA glucuronidation in the cell culture system. Intrapcritoneal injection of mice with oxazepam 15 min before subcutaneous injection of pHAA significantly increases the plasma hall-life of pHAA.     

Inhibition of ciramadol glucuronidation by benzodiazepines

Studies on the inhibition of ciramadol glucuronidation by benzodiazepines were performed in vitro and in vivo. Ciramadol glucuronidation was slower (Vmax, 1.56 vs. 5.40 nmol/min/mg of microsomal protein) in human than in dog liver microsomes. Inhibition constants (Ki) for lorazepam and oxazepam were 3 to 4 times higher than that calculated for diazepam. Rates of morphine glucuronidation in human liver microsomes were assessed for comparative purposes and agreed with literature values. Each benzodiazepine appeared to be a competitive inhibitor of ciramadol and morphine UDP-glucuronyltransferase activity. The in vivo disposition of ciramadol was unchanged in dogs pretreated with lorazepam. After diazepam treatment no change in the Vdss of ciramadol occurred, but plasma clearance was significantly reduced, resulting in a prolongation of t1/2. Diazepam caused a significant reduction in the oral clearance of ciramadol, whereas no change occurred in systemic availability. Thus, diazepam may have had a secondary effect on hepatic blood flow (QH) and produced offsetting alterations in both intrinsic clearance (Cl int) and QH. A decrease in the area under the plasma concentration time curves of ciramadol aryl O-glucuronide following iv treatment with diazepam coupled with the in vitro data indicate that the mechanism for the decrease in the clearance of ciramadol is inhibition of its glucuronidation by diazepam. Since glucuronidation plays a major role in the elimination of ciramadol in man and dog, these experiments suggest that the disposition of ciramadol in man would not be affected by coadministration of lorazepam, whereas the potential for a diazepam/ciramadol drug interaction in humans exists.     

Studies on the reactivity of acyl glucuronides--I. Phenolic glucuronidation of isomers of diflunisal acyl glucuronide in the rat.

Diflunisal (DF) is metabolized primarily to its acyl glucuronide (DAG), phenolic glucuronide (DPG) and sulphate (DS) conjugates. Whereas DPG and DS are stable at physiological pH, DAG is unstable, undergoing hydrolysis (regeneration of DF) and rearrangement (intramolecular acyl migration to the 2-, 3- and 4-O-acyl-positional isomers). We have compared the in vivo disposition of DAG with that of an equimolar mixture of its three isomers after i.v. administration at 10 mg DF equivalents/kg to conscious, bile-exteriorized rats. After dosing with DAG, excretion in urine and bile (46% as DAG), hydrolysis (as assessed by recovery of 9% DPG and 8% DS resulting from reconjugation of liberated DF) and rearrangement (17% recovery as isomers of DAG) were important pathways. Highly polar metabolites excreted almost exclusively in bile and accounting for 13% of the dose were identified as an approximate 4:1 mixture of the 2- and 3-O-isomers of DAG which had been glucuronidated at the phenolic function of the salicylate ring i.e. "diglucuronides" of DF. Evidence for trace quantities only of the phenolic glucuronides of the 4-O-isomer of DAG, and of DAG itself, was found. After dosing rats with an equimolar mixture of the isomers, 52% was recovered (as the isomers) in urine and bile in 6 hr. Hydrolysis was less important--less than 3% (total) of the dose was recovered as DPG and DS. The phenolic glucuronides of the 2- and 3-O-isomers (ratio ca. 3:7) accounted for 37%. Evidence for appreciable formation of the phenolic glucuronide of the 4-O-isomer was not found. In one rat dosed with DPG, there was no evidence for further glucuronidation of the salicylate ring at its carboxy function. The data suggest that the 2- and 3-O-isomers of DAG, but not the 4-O-isomer, DAG itself or DPG, are good substrates for further glucuronidation.     

Hepatic microsomal glucuronidation of clofibric acid in the adult and neonate albino rat

Hepatic microsomal UDP glucuronyltransferase activity towards the acid substrate clofibric acid has been described in the adult and neonate albino rat. The enzyme was maximally activated, approximately 2-fold, in the presence of 0.1–0.4% (w/v) digitonin. Induction of the digitonin activated clofibric acid glucuronyltransferase was observed following phenobarbitone treatment in vivo (2.2-fold), and to a lesser extent, following β-naphthoflavone treatment (1.3-fold). Clofibrate treatment in vivo (of which clofibric acid is the ester hydrolysis product) had no effect on clofibric acid glucuronidation in vitro. The activity of clofibric acid glucuronyltransferase in the liver of rat before and at birth was low (approx. 0.08 nmoles glucuronide formed/min/mg microsomal protein). The activity increased 5-fold during the first three post-natal days. After this time, the activity increased linearly reaching adult levels by four weeks after birth. The data indicated that clofibric acid glucuronyltransferase belongs to the neonatal cluster of enzymes and clofibric acid is a group 2 substrate. Clofibric acid, a common therapeutic agent, is a useful, acid substrate for the estimation of mammalian hepatic microsomal glucuronyltransferase activity.     

Uptake of bile acids by isolated rat hepatocytes

Hepatic uptake of five common bile acids was examined in isolated rat hepatocytes. Taurocholic acid (TCA), glycocholic acid (GCA), cholic acid (CA), deoxycholic acid (DCA) and chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) were studied. Uptake was extremely rapid and was linear for at least 45 sec for all bile acids tested at substrate concentrations from 1 to 400 μM. Both nonsaturable binding to the cell surface membrane and the initial rate of uptake (V₀) of the dihydroxy bile acids (DCA and CDCA) were about ten times greater than those of the trihydroxy bile acids (TCA, GCA and CA) which correlates with the higher lipophilicity of the dihydroxy bile acids. Kinetic analysis demonstrated that uptake of these bile acids was due both to a saturable process and a linear process. The apparent diffusion constant (D_app) of the unsaturable process for the dihydroxy bile acids was also ten times greater than that for the trihydroxy bile acids. After correction for the nonsaturable binding to the cell membrane and linear entry, the K_m and V_max for the uptake was determined. Conjugation with taurine decreased the K_m of CA but not the V_max, while glycine conjugation did not alter either parameter, suggesting that conjugation with taurine may increase its affinity for the transport system. The trihydroxy bile acids have a higher affinity but a lower transporting capacity for the saturable process than the dihydroxy bile acids. In vivo hepatic extraction appears to be more dependent on the affinity of the bile acid for the transport system than the capacity at which it can be transported.     

Inhibition of rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation by boldine.

The alkaloid boldine, found in the leaves and bark of boldo, was an effective inhibitor of rat liver microsomal lipid peroxidation under a variety of conditions. The following systems all displayed a similar sensitivity to boldine: non-enzymatic peroxidation initiated by ferrous ammonium sulfate; iron-dependent peroxidation produced by ferric-ATP with either NADPH or NADH as cofactor; organic hydroperoxide-catalyzed peroxidation; and carbon tetrachloride plus NADPH-dependent peroxidation. Boldine inhibited the excess oxygen uptake associated with microsomal lipid peroxidation. Thus, boldine was effective in inhibiting iron-dependent and iron-independent microsomal lipid peroxidation, with 50% inhibition occurring at a concentration of about 0.015 mM. Boldine did not appear to react efficiently with superoxide radical or hydrogen peroxide, but was effective in competing for hydroxyl radicals with chemical scavengers. Concentrations of boldine which produced nearly total inhibition of lipid peroxidation had no effect on microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity nor did boldine appear to direct electrons from NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase away from cytochrome P450. Boldine completely protected microsomal mixed-function oxidase activity against inactivation produced by lipid peroxidation. The effectiveness of boldine as an anti-oxidant under various conditions, and its low toxicity, suggest that this alkaloid may be an attractive agent for further evaluation as a clinically useful anti-oxidant.     

Inhibition of glucuronidation and sulfation by dibutyryl cyclic AMP in isolated rat hepatocytes

Dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (DBcAMP) has been reported to cause numerous alterations in the activity of hepatic monooxygenase enzymes following in vivo administration or in vitro addition to intact liver preparations. In the present report the effect of the nucleotide on metabolism of p-nitroanisole (pNA) and aniline was studied in isolated rat hepatocytes. Initial studies indicated that in vitro addition of DBcAMP to hepatocytes increased metabolism of both pNA and aniline as determined by the production of oxidized metabolites, p-nitrophenol (pNP) and p-aminophenol, respectively. After enzymatic hydrolysis with beta-glucuronidase and arylsulfatase, it was determined that DBcAMP had increased accumulation of pNP formed from pNA by inhibiting further metabolism via conjugation reactions. Further studies using pNP directly as substrate confirmed the finding and revealed that glucuronidation was more sensitive to the inhibitory effect of DBcAMP than was sulfation. The 8-bromo derivative of cAMP was more potent than DBcAMP at inhibiting glucuronidation, whereas cyclic AMP and dibutyryl cyclic guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate were without effect. Noncyclic adenine nucleotides (ATP, ADP, AMP) also altered pNA and pNP metabolism. ATP and ADP increased pNP accumulation from pNA while ATP and AMP inhibited glucuronidation of pNP. DBcAMP was further found to decrease UDP-glucuronic acid levels in a concentration-dependent manner without disrupting the redox state (NAD+/NADH) in hepatocytes. The data suggest that adenine nucleotides exert a nonspecific inhibition upon glucuronidation and sulfation reactions.     

Inhibition of hepatic microsomal lipid peroxidation by drug substrates without drug metabolism

Experiments were performed to study the mechanism of action of drug substrates on lipid peroxidation in rat hepatic microsomes. Addition of the drug substrates, aniline, β-diethylaminoethyl diphenylpropylacetate (SKF-525A), aminopyrine, benzo[a]pyrene or ethylmorphine, to hepatic microsomes causes almost complete inhibition of NADPH-induced (enzymatic) lipid peroxidation. These substrates also produce similar inhibition of ascorbate-induced (non-enzymatic) lipid peroxidation in microsomes in which drug-metabolizing enzymes were inactivated by heat treatment. The substrate concentrations producing half-maximal inhibition ($\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ are also similar for NADPH- and ascorbate-induced lipid peroxidation. Addition of metyrapone, an inhibitor of drug metabolism, has no effect on either the $\text{K}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$ values or on the maximal substrate inhibition of NADPH-induced lipid peroxidation. All five drug substrates also inhibit Fe²⁺-stimulated oxidation of linoleic acid. These results demonstrate that inhibition of lipid peroxidation in hepatic microsomes by drug substrates is independent of drug metabolism and is probably due to the antioxidant properties of the substrates.