Cytochrome P450 3A1 (CYP3A1)

Thymoquinone protected against renal I/R-induced damage through an antioxidant mechanism as well as the decrease of CYP3A1 and SSAT gene expression.Thymoquinone treatment caused the reversal of I/R-induced changes in MDA as well as GST and SOD activity. Moreover, I/R caused a significant rise in creatinine and alanine aminotransferase serum levels. CYP3A1 mRNA expression was induced significantly by I/R in both liver and kidney tissues compared with sham group. Thymoquinone reduced significantly this increase. I/R caused induction of mRNA expression of spermidine/spermine N-1-acetyl-transferase (SSAT), a catabolic enzyme that participates in polyamine metabolism, in liver and kidney tissues. Thymoquinone reduced SSAT mRNA expression significantly in liver and markedly in kidney.