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Cloudy apple juice (CAJ) is a rich source of nutrients as well as non-nutrient components including high quantity of polyphenols, particularly oligomeric procyanidins, which are considered as potential chemopreventive agents that protect against the action of chemical carcinogens. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of CAJ alone or in combination with hepatocarcinogenic N-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) on liver damage biomarkers, including DNA damage, and the phase I and II enzymes in rat. The forced feeding with CAJ alone for 28 days, has slightly reduced the activities of phase I enzymes, MROD (CYP1A2 biomarker) and PNPH (CYP2El biomarker), while phase II enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and, Nad(p)h: quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), were elevated. Combined treatment of rats with CAJ and NDEA significantly reduced the levels of hepatic ALT and SDH (by ~100%) as compared to values from NDEA-treated animals. CAJ pretreatment further increased the PROD (CYP2B biomarker) and NQO1 activities increased by NDEA administration. Modulation of enzymes activities was accompanied by the changes in the proteins levels. These results indicate that CAJ may protect liver against damage induced by NDEA. Moreover, a significant decrease of SDH activity by CAJ may confirm its potential anti-diabetic activity.

Apples abundant in phenolic compounds show a variety of biological activities that may contribute to health beneficial effects against cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity and cancer. We investigated the effect of cloudy apple juice (CAJ) on the hepatic and mammary gland carcinogen metabolizing enzymes, DNA damage and liver injury, altered by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Sprague-Dawley female rats were gavaged with CAJ (10 ml/kg b.w.) for 28 consecutive days. DMBA was administered i.p. on the 27th and the 28th days. In the liver, feeding with CAJ decreased the activities of CYP1A1 and 1A2 and increased phase II enzymes. The activities of all enzymes tested were enhanced in the animals treated with DMBA alone and in combination with CAJ. The most significant changes in the level of the hepatic enzymes tested were observed for GST alpha and NQO1. In mammary gland CAJ induced an increase in the level of GST mu and GST pi, while DMBA and CAJ combined administration elevated GST pi only. This may be beneficial as GST pi is involved in the DMBA detoxification. Additionally, pretreatment with CAJ reduced the level of most of the blood biochemical liver and kidney markers elevated as a result of DMBA treatment. These findings indicate that CAJ may interfere with enzyme system involved in carcinogen metabolism. However, this effect seems to be dependent on tissue and carcinogen and is moderately effective in the case of DMBA. Moreover, CAJ can also provide some protection against the liver and kidney damage.

Red beetroot contains a specific class of antioxidants collectively named betalains, which have been shown to have anticarcinogenic and anti-inflamatory potential. We investigated the effect of beetroot juice on the hepatic and mammary gland carcinogen metabolizing enzymes, DNA damage and liver injury, altered by 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). In the liver, pretreatment with beetroot juice significantly decreased levels and activities of the majority of tested biochemical parameters, elevated by DMBA. Feeding with beetroot juice decreased the activities of CYP1A1 and 1A2 and increased phase II enzymes. The activities of all enzymes tested were enhanced in the animals treated with DMBA alone and in combination with beetroot juice. The most significant changes in the level of the enzymes tested were observed for, Nad(p)h: quinone oxidoreductase-1. In mammary gland, beetroot juice induced the level of glutathione S-transferase pi, enzyme involved in active metabolites of DMBA detoxification. The final effects of beetroot juice are tissue specific and depend on the class of carcinogen., (Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

Our recent study has shown that beetroot juice protects against N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDEA)-induced liver injury and increases the activity of phase II enzymes, suggesting the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway. The aim of the present study was to further explore the mechanism of the activity of beetroot by evaluating the cytoprotective effects of its major component. The influence of betanin (BET) on the activation of Nrf2 and the expression of GSTA, GSTP, GSTM, GSTT, NQO1 and HO-1 was assessed in two hepatic cell lines: non-tumour THLE-2 and hepatoma-derived HepG2 cell lines. The level of the tumour suppressor p53 in both cell lines and the methylation of GSTP in HepG2 cells were also evaluated. Treatment of both cell lines with 2, 10 and 20 μm of BET resulted in the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to the nucleus. The mRNA and nuclear protein levels of Nrf2 and the binding of Nrf2 to ARE sequences were increased only in the THLE-2 cells and were accompanied by the phosphorylation of serine/threonine kinase (AKT), c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK). BET also significantly increased the mRNA and protein levels of GSTP, GSTT, GSTM and NQO1 in these cells. Conversely, besides the translocation of Nrf2 from the cytosol to the nucleus, BET did not modulate any of the other parameters measured in the HepG2 cells. BET did not change the methylation of GSTP1 in these cells either. These results indicate that BET through the activation of Nrf2 and subsequent induction of the expression of genes controlled by this factor may exert its hepatoprotective and anticarcinogenic effects. Moreover, the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases may be responsible for the activation of Nrf2 in the THLE-2 cells.

This study investigated the effect of raw cabbage and sauerkraut juices on the activity and expression of CYP1A1, 1A2, 1B1 and 2B in Wistar rat liver and kidney. The results were compared with those of two commercially available products of glucosinolates degradation: indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). Significant differences in the effect of the cabbage juices as well as I3C and PEITC between the liver and kidney were found. In the liver, both juices decreased the activities of enzymatic markers of CYP1A1 and CYP1A2 after 10 days of the experiment, while in the kidney an enhancement of the activity of these enzymes was observed on days 4 and 10. The increased activity of these enzymes and CYP1A1/1A2 protein level in the liver was found after 30 days of treatment with sauerkraut juice. A similar effect was observed as a result of PEITC treatment. I3C increased the expression and activity of hepatic CYPs at all time points investigated. In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that raw cabbage and sauerkraut juices may affect CYPs involved in the activation of carcinogens/xenobiotics and in this way exert anticarcinogenic activity. The final effects, however, depend on the time-frame of exposure and the type of tissue., (Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

The effect of raw cabbage and sauerkraut juices on the expression and activity of phase II enzymes, glutathione S-transferase (GST) and NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1), in the rat liver and kidney was compared with that of two commercially available products of glucosinolate degradation: indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC). Male Wistar rats were treated by oral administration with cabbage juices, I3C or PEITC for 4, 10 and 30 d. The results showed that juices, particularly sauerkraut juice as with I3C and PEITC, significantly increased GST and NQO1 activities in the rat liver. The only exception was the 30 d time point of feeding with raw cabbage juice. Cabbage juices, I3C and PEITC affected the hepatic GST μ to the greatest extent and GST α to a lesser extent. The results of the present study also showed that the treatment of rats with juices and compounds tested caused the translocation of the NF-E2-related transcription factor (Nrf2) active subunit from the cytosol to the nucleus, providing an argument for the involvement of this transcription factor in the induction of GST and NQO1. In contrast to the liver, cabbage juices affected only the renal GST θ, while treatment with I3C and PEITC significantly increased the activity of NQO1. Thus, the results of the present study indicate that induction of the key detoxifying enzymes by cabbage juices, particularly sauerkraut, may be responsible for their chemopreventive activity demonstrated by epidemiological studies and in animal models. However, the final effects might be organ or tissue dependent.

Chokeberry is a rich source of procyanidins known to have several types of biological activity including anticarcinogenic potential in experimental models. In this study we examined the effect of chokeberry juice on the hepatic and mammary gland carcinogen metabolizing enzyme expression altered by the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon, 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA). Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged with chokeberry juice (8 ml/kg b.w.) for 28 consecutive days. DMBA was administered i.p. on the 27th and the 28th days. Pretreatment with chokeberry juice reduced the activity of CYP1A1 and increased that of CYP2B involved in metabolic activation/detoxication of DMBA in rat liver, as well as expression and activity of phase II enzymes. Chokeberry juice had no effect on these parameters in the mammary gland and DMBA induced DNA damage in rat blood cells. These results together with our earlier observations indicate that metabolic alterations induced by chokeberry feeding are tissue specific and depend on the class of carcinogen., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Protocatechuic acid, a naturally occurring plant polyphenol, was shown to decrease the mutagenicity and/or carcinogenicity of several amine derivatives and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rodents. In this study the effect of protocatechuic acid on murine cytochrome P450 and phase II enzymes was evaluated. The activities of EROD, MROD, PROD, PNPH, GST, UDPGT and NQO1 were measured in the liver and kidney microsomes of female Swiss mice treated intraperitoneally (i.p.) with protocatechuic acid in the dose range of 80-800 mg/kg. At the highest doses, protocatechuic acid decreased the activities of EROD and MROD by approximately 20-30% in mouse liver and kidney, while the activity of renal PNPH was reduced by 28%. Moreover, Western blot analysis with CYP1A1/1A2 and CYP2E1-specific antibodies showed the same effect on the levels of hepatic CYP1A1/1A2 and CYP2E1 proteins. This simple phenol affected also the phase II enzymes. The activity of GST was elevated in both tissues of the animals treated with protocatechuic acid at the dose of 80 mg/kg. The inhibition of hepatic NQO1 was the most striking effect. The effect was dose dependent and almost 70% inhibition was observed after treatment with protocatechuic acid at the dose of 800 mg/kg. In contrast to the liver, the renal NQO1 was not affected. These results indicate that protocatechuic acid, as other phenolic acids, beside of scavenging active metabolites of chemical carcinogens, can change their metabolism by modulating the enzymes involved in xenobiotics activation and/or detoxification pathways, but this effect depends on tissue.

Naturally occurring phenolics, protocatechuic and tannic acids have been reported to be inhibitors of chemical mutagenesis and carcinogenesis in experimental models. Here, we have studied the effect of pretreatment with these compounds on MC-induced cytochrome P450 and phase II enzymes in rats. The male Wistar rats were treated intraperitoneally with protocatechuic acid and tannic acid in the dose of 50mg/kg every 3 days for 2 weeks. MC was administered at the 12th day of phenolics treatment. The activities of EROD (CYP1A1), MROD (CYP1A2), PROD (CYP2B), PNPH (CYP2E1), GST, UDPGT, NQO1 were measured in the liver and kidney. Protocatechuic acid treatment minimally reduced the MC-induced EROD and MROD, but the observed differences were statistically significant. This compound was also a weak inhibitor of hepatic PNPH. Moreover, Western blot analysis with CYP1A1/1A2- and CYP2E1-specific antibodies showed the same effect in the levels of hepatic CYP1A1/1A2 and CYP2E1. Minimal decrease of renal constitutive (by 23%) and more significant reduction of induced form (by 66%) of PNPH was found as result of treatment with protocatechuic acid. Tannic acid alone had no effect on cytochrome P450 enzymes while in combination with MC this polyphenol minimally enhanced the MC induction of MROD and in greater extent PNPH in liver. The treatment with protocatechuic acid alone enhanced slightly the activities of all three phase II enzymes in liver. The pretreatment with this phenolic of the MC-induced rats however significantly increased the activities of hepatic GST and NQO1 in comparison with MC-treated group. In kidney MC-induced activity of NQO1 was reduced (about 43%) to the control level by tannic acid pretreatment. The results of our present study indicate that in rat the prolonged treatment with protocatechuic acid affects differently the activities of CYP and phase II enzyme when compared to tannic acid. Moreover, the effect of this polyphenols significantly depends on the method of treatment.

1. The effect of the phenolic compounds protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic acid, tannic acid, gallates and silybin on ethoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (CYP1A1), methoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (CYP1A2) and pentoxy-O-dealkylase (CYP2B) was examined in mouse liver microsomes from induced animals. 2. All compounds tested could inhibit cytochrome P450-mediated enzyme activities, but to different extents. Tannic acid was the most potent inhibitor, especially toward EROD activity with an IC50=2.6 microM. Synthetic dodecyl gallate was also relatively selective toward this enzyme activity with an IC50=120 microM. 3. Protocatechuic acid, chlorogenic and silybin were more selective towards PROD and MROD activities. Their relative inhibitory potency for PROD activity was as follows: chlorogenic acid > protocatechuic acid > silybin > dodecyl gallate > propyl gallate. Protocatechuic acid was a more effective inhibitor of MROD activity than chlorogenic acid, and propyl gallate more effective than dodecyl gallate. Thus, no clear structure-activity or selectivity relationship was observed. 4. Analysis of the kinetics of inhibition revealed that the inhibition in most cases was non-competitive in nature.