Eighteen methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP) compounds, including some commonly inhaled by people, were tested for the ability to inhibit rabbit nasal microsomal cytochrome P-450-dependent hexamethylphosphoramide (HMPA) N-demethylase. For comparison, liver microsomes were also used. Nasal cytochrome P-450 from rabbits metabolized MDP compounds to form cytochrome P-450-metabolite (P-450-MI) complexes as indicated by difference spectra in the Soret region. Several of the MDP compounds were potent inhibitors of nasal P-450-dependent N-demethylase. If inhibition of nasal P-450 also occurs in vivo after inhibiting MDP compounds are inhaled, the metabolism of concurrently or subsequently inhaled compounds may be altered.