International Journal of Drug Research and Technology

Drug Interactions Mediated by Cyp2b6

Abstract

Abdulaziz Alhossan*

More and more evidence suggests that CYP2B6 is more involved in drug metabolism in humans than previously thought. There has been a growing interest in the genetic and xenobiotic factors that influence the enzyme's expression and function due to the discovery of numerous important CYP2B6 substrates and polymorphic differences. The liver's xenobiotic receptors, pregnane X receptor (PXR) and constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) are the primary regulators of CYP2B6 expression. These receptors not only mediate the inductive expression of CYP2B6, but also of CYP3A4, several important phase II enzymes and drug transporters. Clinically used drugs like cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide, anesthetics like propofol and ketamine, synthetic opioids like pethidine and methadone and antiretrovirals like nevirapine and efavirenz have been shown to be metabolized by CYP2B6.