Modulation of hepatic cytochromes P450 and phase II enzymes by dietary doses of sulforaphane in rats: Implications for its chemopreventive activity.

The principal objectives of our study were to ascertain whether sulforaphane, at dietary levels of intake, modulates rat hepatic cytochrome P450 and phase II enzyme systems and to evaluate the impact of such changes in the chemopreventive activity of this isothiocyanate. Animals were exposed to sulforaphane in their drinking water for 10 days, equivalent to daily doses of 3 and 12 mg/kg. Depentylation of pentoxyresorufin decreased and was paralleled by a decline in CYP2B apoprotein levels.

Black tea intake modulates the excretion of urinary mutagens in rats exposed to 6-aminochrysene: induction of cytochromes P450 by 6-aminochrysene in the rat.

Rats were exposed to black tea (2.5% w/v) as their sole drinking liquid for either 1 day (short-term) or 1 month (long-term), while controls received water. After exposure, all animals received a single oral dose of 6-aminochrysene and urine was collected for 72 h.

An improved method for the extraction of mutagens from human urine and cooked meat using blue rayon.

A reproducible method has been developed and validated that allows the detection of mutagenic material in human urine following the intake of a meal containing pan-fried beef patties. The mutagens are extracted from the urine with blue rayon and eluted with methanol/ammonia (100:1). Using 14C-2-amino-3-methylimidazo[4,5-f]quinoline (14C-IQ) as a tracer, the extraction efficiency of heterocyclic amines was consistently found to exceed 90%.

Antimutagenic activity of tea: role of polyphenols.

Purpose Of Review: Tea is considered to be one of the most promising dietary chemopreventive agents and, consequently, it is being studied extensively worldwide. Despite the fact that tea has proved very efficient in affording protection against chemical-induced cancer in animal models of the disease, epidemiological studies do not always support the laboratory findings, so that the value of tea as a human anticarcinogen may be considered as 'not proven'. A major mechanism of the anticarcinogenic activity of tea in animals is impairment of the interaction of carcinogens with DNA leading to mutations.