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Metabolism of N ω ‐methylserotonin, a serotonergic constituent of black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa , L. (Nutt.)), by human liver microsomes
Author(s) -
Nikolić Dejan,
Li Jinghu,
Breemen Richard B.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
biomedical chromatography
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.4
H-Index - 65
eISSN - 1099-0801
pISSN - 0269-3879
DOI - 10.1002/bmc.3197
Subject(s) - black cohosh , chemistry , serotonergic , microsome , traditional medicine , chromatography , botany , serotonin , biochemistry , enzyme , biology , medicine , endocrinology , receptor , menopause
The roots/rhizomes of black cohosh ( Cimicifuga racemosa L. (Nutt.) (syn. Actaea racemosa L.) are a popular dietary supplements among women for management of menopausal symptoms. Although not estrogenic, N ω ‐methylserotonin has been identified in black cohosh as a potent agonist of serotonin 5‐HT 1A and 5‐HT 7 receptors. In the present study, in vitro metabolism of N ω ‐methylserotonin was investigated to gain insights into aspects of the bioavailability of this compound. The major metabolic pathway was determined to be conversion into 5‐hydroxyindole acetaldehyde catalyzed by the monoamine oxidase A (MAO‐A). 5‐Hydroxyindole acetaldehyde could be further oxidized to form 5‐hydroxyindole acetic acid by the action of microsomal aldehyde dehydrogenase or reduced to 5‐hydroxy tryptophol by the action of aldehyde reductase. The cytochrome P450 enzymes had only a minor role in the metabolism of N ω ‐methylserotonin and then only when MAO‐A was inhibited. In many aspects, the metabolism of N ω ‐methylserotonin was similar to the metabolism of serotonin, suggesting that this compound is unlikely to elicit CNS effects due to rapid metabolism by the widely distributed MAO‐A. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.