Time- and concentration-dependent effects of resveratrol in HL-60 and HepG2 cells

Resveratrol, a phytochemical present in grapes, has been demonstrated to inhibit tumourigenesis in animal models. However, the specific mechanism by which resveratrol exerts its anticarcinogenic effect has yet to be elucidated. In the present study, the inhibitory effects of resveratrol on cell proliferation and apoptosis were evaluated in the human leukaemia cell line HL-60 and the human hepatoma derived cell line HepG2. We found that after a 2 h incubation period, resveratrol inhibited DNA synthesis in a concentration-dependent manner. The IC50 value was 15 microm in both HL-60 and HepG2 cells. When the time of treatment was extended, an increase in IC50 value was observed; for example, at 24 h the IC50 value was 30 microm for HL-60 cells and 60 microm for HepG2 cells. Flow cytometry revealed that cells accumulated in different phases of the cell cycle depending on the resveratrol concentration. Furthermore, an increase in nuclear size and granularity was observed in the G1 and S phases of HL-60 treated and HepG2-treated cells. Apoptosis was also stimulated by resveratrol in a concentration-dependent manner in HL-60 and HepG2 cells. In conclusion, resveratrol inhibits cell proliferation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner by interfering with different stages of the cell cycle. Furthermore, resveratrol treatment causes stimulation of apoptosis as well as an increase in nuclear size and granularity.

Biochemical effects of dietary intakes of different broccoli samples. I. Differential modulation of cytochrome P-450 activities in rat liver, kidney, and colon

Modulation of xenobiotic metabolism, including cytochrome P-450 (CYP) enzyme activities, due to dietary intakes of cruciferous vegetables, has been described in animals and humans, and the induction of CYP1A enzymes is suggested mainly to be related to the content of indolyl glucosinolates in these vegetables. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects on specific CYP activities of various broccoli samples containing different levels of glucosinolates. Groups of rats were fed 1 of 8 broccoli samples from 2 cultivars grown at different conditions. Thirteen different glucosinolates were quantified. The content of the 4 major glucosinolates, glucoraphanin (GRAP), glucoiberin, glucobrassicin (GB), and neoglucobrassicin (NeoGB) varied 5.6-, 2.7-, 3.2-, and 6.6-fold, respectively, among the broccoli samples. Dietary broccoli induced the CYP1A enzyme activities, 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin-O-demethylase (MROD), in rat liver, weakly in colon, but not in kidney. In concordance, the hepatic metabolism of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo(4,5-b)pyridine (PhIP) to the proximate carcinogen N-OH-PhIP, a CYP1A-related activity, was enhanced by broccoli. The 7-pentoxyresorufin-O-depenthylase (PROD) activity, an assay for CYP2B1/2, was weakly induced in colon and kidney but not in liver by broccoli. The 2 beta-OH- and 6 beta-OH-testosterone hydroxylase activities were induced in liver microsomes, showing that broccoli increased CYP3A activity. The observed modulations of CYP activities depended clearly on the broccoli sample used, and significantly different responses were observed for different cultivars and growth conditions. These results indicate that modulation of CYP metabolism by broccoli may vary significantly in humans as well, as the content of glucosinolates and other active substances also varies between commercially available broccoli samples. The different effects depending on the vegetable sample eaten have to be considered in future experiments and dietary recommendations.

Biochemical effects of dietary intake of different broccoli samples. II. Multivariate analysis of contributions of specific glucosinolates in modulating cytochrome P-450 and antioxidant defense enzyme activities

Dietary broccoli exposure modulates various cytochrome P-450 (CYP)-associated activities and antioxidant defense enzyme activities in liver, colon, and kidney of rats. We present an analysis by the partial least-square method (PLS) of the contribution of single glucosinolates in modulating xenobiotic metabolizing and antioxidant defense enzyme activities. Generally, modulation of colonic enzyme activities was well described (58% to 75%) by models consisting of 3 principal components (PCs). The indolyl glucosinolates were not the only major contributors to the regulation of colonic 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase (MROD) activities, as would be expected from results of previous experiments testing the pure compounds, glucobrassicin (GB), neoglucobrassicin (NeoGB), and 4-methoxyglucobrassicin (4-MeOGB). In hepatic and renal microsomes, the modulation of enzyme activities could be partly described for hepatic and renal 7-pentoxyresorufin O-deethylase (PROD) activities (42% to 44%, 3 to 4 PCs), hepatic superoxide dismutase activity (45%, 2 PCs), and renal glutathione peroxidase (GSH Px) and glutathione reductase (GSSG Red) activities (43%, 3 PCs). These results indicate that substances other than glucosinolates in the complex mixtures modulate hepatic EROD, MROD, GSH Px, and GSSG Red activities or that the active glucosinolate metabolites vary in their systemic disposition.

Functional food ingredients against colorectal cancer. An example project integrating functional genomics, nutrition and health

Functional Food Ingredients Against Colorectal Cancer is one of the first European Union funded Research Projects at the cross-road of functional genomics [comprising transcriptomics, the measurement of the expression of all messengers RNA (mRNAs) and proteomics, the measurement of expression/state of all proteins], nutrition and human health. The goal of Functional Food Ingredients Against Colorectal Cancer is to develop a colon epithelial cell line-based screening assay for nutrients with presumed anti-colorectal carcinogenic properties. Genes involved in colon carcinogenesis are identified at the RNA and protein level, using a variety of methods (subtractive hybridisation, DNA microarray, proteomics) in combination with models for colorectal cancer development (human biopsies, rat model for colorectal carcinogenesis, colorectal cancer epithelial cell lines). Secondly, colorectal cancer epithelial cell lines are selected, in terms of their capacity to undergo gene/protein expression changes representing different phases in the colorectal carcinogenesis. Thirdly, these cell lines are used to determine the effects of nutrients with presumed anti-carcinogenic properties (e.g. resveratrol, flavonoids) on functional genomics-derived endpoints. Once validated against the effects of these nutrients in in vivo animal models and classical biomarkers for colorectal carcinogenesis, these cell line models combined with functional genomics represent useful tools to study colorectal carcinogenesis and screen for nutrients with anti-carcinogenic properties.

Resveratrol reverses tumor-promoter-induced inhibition of gap-junctional intercellular communication

The naturally occurring stilbene/alexin trans-resveratrol (trans-3,5, 4'-trihydroxystilbene) is a promising agent for the prevention of cancer. We investigated the effect of resveratrol on gap-junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) in WB-F344 rat liver epithelial cells because inhibition of GJIC is an important mechanism of tumor promotion. Seventeen to 50 microM resveratrol increased GJIC significantly by a factor of 1.3 compared with solvent vehicle controls, when the WB-F344 cells were exposed to resveratrol for 6 h. Most tumor promoters, including the phorbol ester TPA and the insecticide DDT, block GJIC. Resveratrol at 17-50 microM also significantly prevented down-regulation of GJIC by TPA and DDT, by a factor of 2.7 and 1.8, respectively. This recovery of GJIC from TPA inhibition was partly correlated with hindered hyperphosphorylation of Cx43. In conclusion, resveratrol was found to enhance GJIC and counteract the effects of tumor promoters on GJIC, and this is likely a mechanism that contributes to the antipromotional and anticarcinogenic properties of resveratrol.

N-methoxyindole-3-carbinol is a more efficient inducer of cytochrome P-450 1A1 in cultured cells than indol-3-carbinol

The well-documented reduction of cancer risk by high dietary cruciferous vegetable intake may in part be caused by modulation of cytochrome P-450 (CYP) expression and activity by indoles. The purpose of the present experiments was to study the mechanism of CYP 1A1 induction by N-methoxyindole-3-carbinol (NI3C) in cultured cells and to compare the CYP-inducing potential of NI3C and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) administered to rats. NI3C induced 7-ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in Hepa-1c1c7 cells in a concentration-dependent manner with 10-fold higher efficiency than I3C. Inasmuch as NI3C induced binding of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) to the dioxin-responsive element and induced expression of endogenous CYP 1A1 mRNA and an AhR-responsive chloramphenicol acetyl transferase construct, we conclude that NI3C can activate the AhR. Besides the induction of CYP 1A1, we observed an inhibition of EROD activity, with a concentration causing 50% inhibition of 6 microM. Oral administration of NI3C at 570 mumol/kg body wt to male Wistar rats increased the hepatic CYP 1A1 and 1A2 protein levels, as well as the EROD and 7-methoxyresorufin O-demethylase activities at 8 and 24 hours after administration, but the responses were less pronounced than after administration of I3C at 570 mumol/kg body wt. Furthermore, NI3C did not induce hepatic 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase activity, as I3C did. Ascorbigen, another indolylic compound formed during degradation of glucobrassicin in the presence of ascorbic acid, was tested in the same animal model, and ascorbigen only weakly induced hepatic CYP 1A1 and 1A2, but not CYP 2B1/2. In conclusion, NI3C is a more efficient inducer of CYP 1A1 in cultured cells than I3C but is less active when administered to rodents.

Modulation of cytochrome P4501A1 activity by ascorbigen in murine hepatoma cells

Modulation of cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) activity is a mechanism whereby indoles present in cruciferous vegetables could affect the metabolism of xenobiotics. Ascorbigen (ASG) is the predominant indole formed during the degradation of glucobrassicin, although the mechanism by which ASG modulates CYP1A1 activity is not known. The major focus of this study was to examine the mechanism of CYP induction by ASG using a murine hepatoma-derived cell line (Hepa 1c1c7). ASG was shown to induce the activity of 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase, a marker for CYP1A1, in a concentration-responsive manner with a maximum induction at 700 microM. Maximum ASG induction after 24-hr treatment was 7% of maximal CYP1Al activity induced by the well-known potent CYP1A1 inducer, indolo[3,2-b]carbazole (ICZ) (1 microM), and the EC50 values differed by 2-fold. The CYP1A1 activity increased continuously up to 72 hr, where ASG showed an induction efficiency in the same range as for the positive control (1 microM ICZ) after 24 hr, whereas the CYP1A1 protein level, measured by Western blot analysis, was maximally induced after 24 hr. ASG significantly inhibited CYP1A1 activity in whole cells at concentrations above 1 microM. ASG increased the chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activity via a CAT reporter construct containing a dioxin-responsive element in Hepa 1c1c7 cells, indicating involvement of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor. ASG was shown to be transformed into ICZ, or a compound with the same chromatographic mobility as ICZ, in the medium. Taken together, the results indicate that ASG inhibits CYP1A1 activity at low concentrations, but induces the same activity at higher concentrations.

Effects of dietary broccoli on rat testicular xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes

The effects of vegetables on the activities of various metabolizing enzymes in liver and intestine have been studied intensively, whereas studies on effects on testicular metabolizing enzymes are lacking. The present report is the first describing the effects of dietary broccoli on the activities of a number of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes from rat testes. Groups of male Wistar rats were fed a semisynthetic diet with 10% (w/w) freeze-dried broccoli for 1 week. Different broccoli samples with varying content of glucosinolates were used. Dietary broccoli significantly increased the activities of two testicular phase II enzymes--glutathione S-transferase (1.6-fold) and UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (1.8-fold). The activities of these enzymes differed significantly depending on the conditions during cultivation of the broccoli, because of differences in the content of glucosinolates and other secondary plant metabolites. The levels of two glutathione S-transferase subunits, rGSTM2 and rGSTA, were determined using Western blotting analysis and the levels of both subunits were reduced in animals fed broccoli grown at low S-fertilizer level. Broccoli did not statistically significantly modulate the activities of the phase I enzymes, epoxide hydrolase or NAD(P)H quinone-oxidoreductase, or the phase II enzyme p-sulphotransferase, or the anti-oxidative enzymes catalase and total glutathione peroxidase in rat testes. In general, dietary broccoli affects phase I and phase II enzyme levels in rat testes much less than found in liver, however, two rat testicular phase II xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes were induced.

Modulation of cytochrome P-450 and glutathione S-transferase isoform expression in vivo by intact and degraded indolyl glucosinolates

Various dietary substances modulate the xenobiotic metabolism and may thereby protect against toxicity and carcinogenicity of food toxins. The effects of pure indolyl glucosinolates, which are present in cruciferous vegetables, on induction of specific cytochrome P-450 (CYP) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms have not been studied previously. In the present study, glucobrassicin (GB) and neoglucobrassicin (NeoGB) were purified from broccoli by use of a single-column method. Furthermore, a mixture containing 48% GB, 36% NeoGB, and 16% 4-methoxyglucobrassicin was obtained. The modulatory effects of the pure GB, NeoGB, and the mixture on activities and levels of hepatic CYP 1A, 2B1/2, and 2E1 and alpha- and mu-GST isoforms were investigated in male Wistar rats. The indolyl mixture was the most powerful and NeoGB the weakest inducer of microsomal hepatic CYP 1A1 protein and 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity. Furthermore, intact indolyl glucosinolates were more powerful inducers than the in vitro myrosinase-degraded indolyl glucosinolates. The hepatic 7-methoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities, but not CYP 1A2 protein, were induced by pure GB, whereas the mixture and NeoGB showed only minor effects. Neither CYP 2B1/2 nor 2E1 was induced by the indolyl glucosinolates. None of the hepatic GST subunits analyzed, rGST A1/2, A3, or M3, was induced significantly by the purified indolyl glucosinolates.

Modulation of drug-metabolising enzyme expression by condensation products of indole-3-ylcarbinol, an inducer in cruciferous vegetables

Indole-3-ylcarbinol (13C) is formed during processing of cruciferous vegetables and is suggested to be one of the modulators of drug-metabolising enzymes. Indole-3-ylcarbinol is a far less efficient inducer of hepatic enzymes after parenteral than after oral administration, due to formation of active metabolites in the gastrointestinal tract. As indole-3-ylcarbinol is unstable in weakly acidic aqueous solutions, non-active condensation products may be formed from indole-3-ylcarbinol, that cannot be transformed to the active products when reaching the stomach. The purpose of the present study was to test the ability of the condensation products formed at a pH corresponding to that of fresh vegetable juice to modulate the metabolism of xenobiotics. Indole-3-ylcarbinol was incubated in vitro at room temperature in the dark at pH 5.5 and samples taken at various times, for oral administration to rats and for chemical analysis. Indole-3-ylcarbinol was rapidly transformed into various oligomeric products. The 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activities (marker of cytochrome Cytochrome P450 1A enzymes, CYP1A) in liver, kidney and colon increased with the duration of the in vitro condensation period whereas the formation of 6beta-, 15beta- and and 2alpha-hydroxytestosterone was not affected significantly, indicating no effect on CYP2C11 or CYP3A enzymes. The hepatic metabolism of the food mutagen 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP). was increased by indole-3-ylcarbinol condensation products and the 4'-OH-PhIP/N-OH-PhIP ratio was decreased due to a significantly increased formation of the proximate genotoxic metabolite. N-OH-PhIP. The activities of DT-diaphorase and glutathione S-transferase were not changed significantly in the rat organs. These experiments clearly indicate that indole-3-ylcarbinol is not the definitive CYP1A inducer and that indole-3-ylcarbinol at near-neutral pH, is transformed to compounds that are inducers by themselves or may be further converted into inducing compounds in the rat stomach. Also, the enzyme inducing potency of indole-3-ylcarbinol containing vegetable juice is apparently enhanced by incubation in vitro before the intake.

Effects of dietary broccoli on human drug metabolising activity

Eighteen volunteers received 500 g fresh broccoli every day for 12 days after a 6-day period of standard diet. The activity of CYP1A2, CYP2E1 and the estrone 2 and 16alpha-hydroxylation were determined prior to and after the broccoli diet. The average activity of CYP1A2 and the average 2/16alpha-hydroxyestrone ratio were increased 19% (P < 0.0005) and 29.5% (P < 0.05), respectively; however, no effects were observed on the CYP2E1 activity.

Combined effects of complex mixtures of potentially anti-carcinogenic compounds on antioxidant enzymes and carcinogen metabolizing enzymes in the rat

The anti-carcinogenic activity of dietary fruit and vegetables observed in several epidemiological and experimental animal studies is likely to be an effect of the combined exposure to a large number of substances acting together. This is plausible, as these compounds are present simultaneously in a diet containing vegetables and fruit. Further, some compounds have been experimentally demonstrated to modify several mechanisms involved in carcinogenesis. The effect of combined exposure is demonstrated in the present article, summarizing the effects of a complex mixture of anti-carcinogenic substances (from broccoli) on different antioxidative defense enzymes and on cytochrome P-450 activities in rat liver, kidney and colon. The responses were related to the levels of different specific glucosinolates.

Effects of dietary broccoli on human in vivo drug metabolizing enzymes: evaluation of caffeine, oestrone and chlorzoxazone metabolism

Ingestion of cruciferous vegetables may prevent chemically induced carcinogenesis by their influence on specific cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP) and phase II drug metabolizing enzymes in humans and rodents. Thus CYP enzymes are involved in transformation of procarcinogens, mutagens, steroid hormones and a large variety of other endogenous and exogenous components. In order to learn more about the influence of cruciferous vegetables on drug metabolizing enzymes in man two CYP enzymes previously suggested to be induced by vegetables were selected in an in vivo experiment in humans. Sixteen healthy non-smoking subjects, two females and 14 males, were exposed to three different types of diets and afterwards assayed for CYP1A2 catalysed caffeine metabolites and for CYP2E1 catalysed 6-hydroxylation of chlorzoxazone. Further, 2-hydroxyoestrone:16 alpha-hydroxylation ratios were determined in urine by means of a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme immunoassay. The three dietary periods were: (A) a customary home diet; (B) a 6 day standard diet avoiding well-known dietary inducers and inhibitors of CYP; (C) a 12 day dietary supplement to the standard diet of 500 g/day broccoli. The average 6-hydroxychlorzoxazone:chlorzoxazone ratio decreased by 21% (P < 0.05) after diet B compared with diet A in a 2 h plasma sample after ingestion of 500 mg chlorzoxazone. The ratio increased by 19% after diet C, however, this was not statistically significant. The caffeine metabolic ratio (CMR) was determined in urine 6 h after ingestion of 100 mg caffeine. The mean CMR increased by 5.5% when changing from diet A to diet B. When shifting to diet C the mean CMR increased a further 19% (P < 0.0005). The average 2-hydroxyoestrone:16 alpha-hydroxyoestrone ratio decreased by 1.3% when comparing diet A with diet B. Daily broccoli intake increased the ratio by 29.5% (P < 0.05). A low correlation of CMR with the 2-hydroxyoestrone:16 alpha-hydroxyoestrone ratio indicates that human CYP1A2 and other CYP enzymes involved in oestrone 2-hydroxylation are induced by dietary broccoli. On the other hand, the catalytic activity of CYP2E1 is not affected to the same degree by dietary broccoli.

Inhibition of intercellular communication by condensates of high and low tar cigarettes

Inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) is a predictive short term test for tumor promoting activity. A new metabolic cooperation assay has been developed, which takes the cytochrome P-450 metabolism into account. In this assay the inhibitory activity of tobacco smoke condensates (CSC) and CSC fractions from high and low tar cigarettes was tested. CSC of both high and low tar cigarettes and fractions thereof contained tumor promoting activity. The tar yield of the cigarettes did not closely reflect the effects in the GJIC assay and the major constituent nicotine had no effect. The effect was only marginally greater in cells expressing different cytochrome P-450 enzymes, indicating that the active substances are not metabolized by these enzymes. The activities of CSC fractions were considerably lower than the activities in the unfractionated CSC. This may indicate that compounds in the CSC act strongly synergistically. Furthermore, CSC and CSC fractions synergistically inhibit GJIC with the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, indicating different mechanisms of action.

Cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism of tumour promoters modifies the inhibition of intercellular communication: a modified assay for tumour promotion

The role of metabolism of tumour promoters on the inhibition of intercellular communication was investigated in a modified V79 metabolic cooperation system. V79 cells, which stably express different rat cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP1A2 or CYP2B1), were used in the metabolic cooperation assay. The inhibitory effect on intercellular communication of four compounds was changed in cells expressing cytochrome P450 enzymes, compared to cells without. The phorbol ester TPA and di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate blocked intercellular communication in all the cell lines tested, but expression of CYP1A1 enzyme reduced the inhibitory activity in these cells. Diethylstilbestrol caused inhibition only with cells containing cytochrome P450 enzymes. In contrast, the benzene metabolite hydroquinone inhibited metabolic cooperation preferentially in cells without cytochrome P450 enzymes. The inhibition of metabolic cooperation by another benzene metabolite, phenol, was not affected by the cytochrome P450 enzymes. The inhibitory activity of several chemicals that have not been tested previously was analysed in the new metabolic cooperation assay. The inhibitory activity of none of these chemicals was affected by cytochrome P450-associated metabolism. 7-Octylindolactam V was as potent as TPA, whereas the related indolactam V was 100-fold less active. The carcinogenic aromatic amine 4-aminobiphenyl, but not its primary metabolite 4-hydroxyaminobiphenyl, inhibited metabolic cooperation. Other known carcinogens, ochratoxin A, aflatoxin B1 and 4-nitrobiphenyl, did not inhibit metabolic cooperation in either V79 cells expressing or cells not expressing cytochrome P450. We conclude that cytochrome P450-associated metabolism plays an important role in the inhibition of gap junctional intercellular communication of some tumour promoters. The modified metabolic cooperation assay presented here is valuable for detecting some inhibitory chemicals which have been 'false negative' in previous assays for gap junctional intercellular communication. The assay also discloses that cytochrome P450 metabolism alters intercellular communication by a mechanism other than metabolism of the exogenous inhibitor.

Bioactivation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]-pyridine by liver microsomes from three different rat strains

The biotransformation of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]-pyridine (PhIP) and the protein binding of PhIP and 2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (IQ) was studied using microsomes from PCB-pretreated or untreated male rats of the strains, Wistar, Fischer and Sprague-Dawley. The microsomal monooxygenases, P450IA1 and IA2, which are important for the biotransformation of heterocyclic amines, were quantified by immunoblots. The two metabolites detected, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-(4'-hydroxyphenyl)imidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (4'OH-PhIP) and 2-hydroxyamino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (N2-OH-PhIP) were formed in similar amounts whereas no minor metabolites were found in our highly sensitive radiochemical assay. Irrespective of the rat strain used, pretreatment with PCB significantly induced both the activation and the detoxication in all three rat strains. Except for a significantly higher concentration of P450IA2 in microsomes from control and PCB induced Wistar rats, no major differences between the strains were found.

Induction of cytochrome P-450IA1, IA2, IIB1, IIB2 and IIE1 by broccoli in rat liver and colon

Ingestion of broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables inhibits the induction of cancer by chemicals and modifies some cytochrome P-450 enzyme activities. The effect of dietary broccoli on the levels of P450IA and IIB mRNA and proteins in rat liver and colon has been studied. Rats were fed a ten percent broccoli diet for 7 days. The expression of the cytochrome P-450 forms was altered to a different extent in the liver and colon. The level of total P450IA mRNA in the liver was increased by the broccoli together with the P450IA1 and IA2 proteins. Colonic P450IA1 mRNA and protein were induced by the broccoli diet, whereas only P450IA2 protein and not mRNA was detectable in colon, but the protein level was unaffected by the broccoli diet. Liver P450IIB and IIE1 proteins were increased by the broccoli diet, whereas the level of P450IIB mRNAs was not affected. In contrast, the P450IIB mRNA levels were reduced but the protein levels were increased in colon and we suggest that a feedback mechanism caused the decrease of the P450IIB mRNAs levels. Because the ratio between activation and deactivation may be an important risk determinant, we conclude that the protective effect of the broccoli diet on chemically induced tumors in rodents may be caused by the broccoli-induced changes in P450IA and IIB associated enzyme activities.

Induction of cytochrome P450IA1 in rat colon and liver by indole-3-carbinol and 5,6-benzoflavone

It is known that consumption of cruciferous vegetables protects against the chemical induction of cancer in many organs. It has been suggested that this protection is mediated through an effect on the cytochrome P450 monooxygenase system. This system is responsible for the activation of a number of chemical carcinogens to their ultimate forms. In the present study, the effect of indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 5,6-benzoflavone (5,6BF) on the expression of cytochrome P450IA1 in rat colon and liver has been investigated. Cytochrome P450IA1 mRNA was induced in colon following a single oral administration of I3C or 5,6BF. A biphasic induction profile was obtained with maxima at 4 and 16 h post-administration. Both inducers caused an approximately 2-fold increase in P450IA1 mRNA at 4 h and a 10-fold increase at 16 h. In contrast, both cytochrome P450IA1 and IA2 mRNAs was increased over the control between 4 and 24 h. The total amount of P450IA mRNAs in liver at 4 and 16 h was increased about 2- and 4-fold respectively by I3C; 5,6BF induced the P450IA mRNAs 4- and 5-fold respectively. The expression of cytochrome P450IA1 and IA2 is induced by I3C and several flavones present in cruciferous vegetables. This suggests that one of the protective effects of cruciferous vegetables in the reduction of chemically induced cancer may be regulation of cytochrome P450s involved in the metabolism of the chemical carcinogens.