Interaction Between Barbiturate and Membrane Components

Intermolecular interaction between barbiturates and membrane components such as phospholipid and cholesterol were investigated on $^1$H-NMR spectra and infrared spectra. According to previous reports, barbiturates interacted with phospholipid through intermolecular hydrogen bonds. We also investigated thi observation using dipalmitoyl-phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) as phospholipid in deuterochloroform, and characterized quantitatively. Also, the observed drug could interact with cholesterol which is one of the major components of biomembranes through hydrogen bonds. It was the carbonyl groups of barbiturate and the hydroxyl group of cholesterol that formed hydrogen bond complex. In addition to spectroscopic studies, we investigated the direct effect of phenobarbital on lipid multibilayer vesicles, whose compositions were varied, by calorimetric method. Phenobarbital caused a reduction in the temperature of phase transition of vesicles. These studies may provided a basis for interpreting the mode of action of barbiturates.