Objective:To investigate the effect of the total
coumarins from peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn(TCP) on the activity of hepatic
drug-metabolizing enzymes in mice. Methods:Mice were randomly grouped. Animals of the blank control,positive control and TCP groups were given each by gastrogavage 5% Tween-80 (20 mL·kg -1),chloromycetin (25 mg·kg -1) and TCP(50,100,200 mg·kg -1)in equal volumes,respectively. An hour later,mice of all groups were given each an intraperitoneal injection of either 36 mg·kg -1 of
pentobarbital sodium or 180 mg·kg -1 of barbital sodium. The effects of these 2 hypnotics were kept under observation in all the animals tested and the activities of hepatic microsomal aniline hydroxylase(ANH) and aminopyrine N-demethylase(ADM) determined by spectrophotometry. Results:TCP was shown to dramatically prolong the
hypnotic duration of pentobarbital sodium in a dose-dependent manner,but it hardly influenced the hypnotic effect of barbital sodium. TCP in doses of 50 and 100 mg·kg -1 was found to markedly inhibit the activities of ANH and ADM. Conclusion:TCP proved to be capable of inhibiting the activity of hepatic microsomal drug-metabolizing enzymes in mice.