Artemisia annua is a medicinal herb that is used around the world as a treatment for malaria and other diseases. It is an inhibitor of the Cytochrome-P450 enzyme 3A4. This CYP is responsible for metabolizing about 50% of currently used clinical drugs. Because of the wide variety of substrates of CYP3A4, it is important to explore any interactions between substrates when consumed simultaneously to prevent liver strain and other adverse effects. Here, the interactions between acetaminophen and caffeine (two drugs that are very commonly consumed worldwide) and A. annua tea infusion are investigated using the P450-Glo Assay from Promega with human liver microsomes (HLMs). Two checkerboard assays using acetaminophen vs. A. annua tea and caffeine vs. A. annua tea, respectively, were completed to determine the interaction between the two drugs. Based on fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) and kinetics analysis of these assays, both acetaminophen and caffeine were found to be antagonistic and competitive inhibitors with A. annua tea. This means that both drugs affect A. annua’s ability to inhibit CYP3A4. Based on this, it is safe to co-consume acetaminophen/caffeine at the recommended dosage with A. annua tea.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Duncan, Hannah

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• 104066
• E-project-042023-112923

Advisor

• Galante, John S.
• Weathers, Pamela
• Scarlata, Suzanne Frances

Year

• 2023

Date created

• 2023-04-20

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Biochemistry

Source

• E-project-042023-112923

Rights statement

• In Copyright

Last modified

• 2023-06-23