Absence of Polymorphism of Sparteine Oxidation in the South African Venda

1 This study has found no occurrence of poor metabolism of sparteine within a South African Venda populaton of 97 subjects. 2 On the basis of MR (metabolic ratio) the mean and distribution of the results are very similar to those found in Ghanaians.5,14 3 The distribution is also similar to that for fast metabolizers in Caucasians.14 4 It is concluded that different P450 cytochromes are responsible for immediate oxidation of debrisoquine and sparteine, but that both may be activated by the same P450 reductase.