No correlation between side-chain of propranolol oxidation and S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase activity.

To determine if any correlation between the side-chain oxidative capacity for propranolol and S-mephenytoin 4'-hydroxylase (cytochrome P-450 2C19, CYP2C19) activity in healthy Chinese of Han nationality. S-mephenytoin oxidative metabolite 4'-hydroxymephenytoin (4'OH-M), S- and R-mephenytoin, and naphthoxyl-actic acid (NLA) excreted in urine, and propranolol in plasma were measured after 14 healthy extensive metabolizers of S-mephenytoin oxidation were given a single oral dose of racemic mephenytoin 100 mg and racemic propranolol 80 mg, respectively. S/R-mephenytoin in urine was determined by chiral capillary gas chromatography with nitrogen-phosphorus detection, 4'-OH-M in urine by reversed-phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) with ultraviolet detection, and plasma propranolol or urinary NLA by the RPLC with fluorescence detection. No significant correlations were found between the partial metabolic clearance (Clm) of propranolol to NLA and 8 h urinary S/R ratio of mephenytoin (rs = -0.0484; P = 0.8695), nor between the Clm and log10 of 8 h urinary excretion of 4'-OH-M (rs = -0.1077; P = 0.7140). CYP2C19 is not a principal P-450 isozyme responsible for the in vivo side-chain oxidation of propranolol in the Chinese.