Articles
MYRISTICIN: INDUCER OF PHASE-II DRUG METABOLIZING ENZYMES AND PROSPECTIVE CHEMOPROTECTIVE AGENT AGAINST CANCER
Article number
841_2
Pages
47 – 54
Language
English
Abstract
Given the numerous health benefits of phytochemicals, such as the reduction of risk for cancer, there is resurgence in the use of herbal medicines in Western countries.
Many of these phytochemicals are known to cause the induction of the Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes such as Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (QR). The induction of the phase II enzymes is believed to be an effective and sufficient strategy for achieving protection against toxic agents including carcinogens.
Therefore, consumption of phytochemicals and other nontoxic agents that are known to induce GST, QR, and other beneficial enzymes is a significant approach for decreasing the incidence of cancer.
In this study we have investigated the effect of myristicin (1-ally-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), a constituent of parsley oil, on the induction of GST and QR activities on four strains of mouse.
Female (9-11 week old) mice: A/JOlaHsd, C57BL/6NHsd, BALB/cAnNHsd, CBA/JCrHsd, were administered four doses of myristicin (20 mg/dose) over a period of one week.
GST and QR activities were determined in liver, lung, stomach, and intestine.
The results show that GST and QR activities are significantly increased in the livers of all four mice strains.
GST activity was increased in the intestine of three out of four strains.
Alternatively, the QR activities were significantly increased in the lungs and stomachs of three out four stains.
The data also revealed elevated GST activity against both 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 4-nitroquinoline1-oxide (4NQ). The induction of GST against 4NQ is significant in that it is a known carcinogen.
Our results also show that gender significantly influences the level the induction of GST in mouse liver.
The results of this study imply that myristicin, which is found in a wide variety of herbs and vegetables, has strong potential as an effective chemoprotective agent against cancer.
Many of these phytochemicals are known to cause the induction of the Phase II drug metabolizing enzymes such as Glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase (QR). The induction of the phase II enzymes is believed to be an effective and sufficient strategy for achieving protection against toxic agents including carcinogens.
Therefore, consumption of phytochemicals and other nontoxic agents that are known to induce GST, QR, and other beneficial enzymes is a significant approach for decreasing the incidence of cancer.
In this study we have investigated the effect of myristicin (1-ally-5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxybenzene), a constituent of parsley oil, on the induction of GST and QR activities on four strains of mouse.
Female (9-11 week old) mice: A/JOlaHsd, C57BL/6NHsd, BALB/cAnNHsd, CBA/JCrHsd, were administered four doses of myristicin (20 mg/dose) over a period of one week.
GST and QR activities were determined in liver, lung, stomach, and intestine.
The results show that GST and QR activities are significantly increased in the livers of all four mice strains.
GST activity was increased in the intestine of three out of four strains.
Alternatively, the QR activities were significantly increased in the lungs and stomachs of three out four stains.
The data also revealed elevated GST activity against both 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB) and 4-nitroquinoline1-oxide (4NQ). The induction of GST against 4NQ is significant in that it is a known carcinogen.
Our results also show that gender significantly influences the level the induction of GST in mouse liver.
The results of this study imply that myristicin, which is found in a wide variety of herbs and vegetables, has strong potential as an effective chemoprotective agent against cancer.
Publication
Authors
H. Ahmad, V. Valdivia, A. Cadena, E. Martinez, B. Robles, R. Patel, A. Zapata, A. Mancha, W.S. Lai, R. Gelman, M. Amro
Keywords
glutathione S-transferase, NAD(P)H:quinone reductase, phase II, enzyme induction, chemoprevention, 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide
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