黄酮类化合物对葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶缺乏者红细胞的体外氧化作用

目的:探讨黄酮类化合物对葡萄糖-6-磷酸脱氢酶(G6PD)缺乏者红细胞氧化还原状态的影响。方法:将低、中、高浓度的槲皮素、黄芩素、芹菜素、漆黄素、木犀草素、柚皮素、桑黄素、山奈酚、葛根素和芦丁分别与G6PD缺乏者及正常者红细胞在40%红细胞悬液和全血中进行体外孵育,测定红细胞还原性谷胱甘肽(GSH)和高铁血红蛋白(MetHb)的水平。结果:槲皮素、黄芩素、芹菜素、漆黄素、木犀草素、柚皮素、桑黄素、山奈酚具有较强的氧化作用,能明显降低G6PD缺乏者红细胞GSH水平,升高MetHb水平。葛根素仅降低G6PD缺乏者红细胞GSH水平,具有较弱的氧化作用。芦丁对G6PD缺乏者红细胞GSH和MetHb均无影响。较高浓度的槲皮素、芹菜素、桑黄素亦能使G6PD正常者MetHb水平升高。黄酮类化合物的氧化作用呈一定浓度依赖性,在中、高浓度时表现明显。结论:部分黄酮类化合物对G6PD缺乏者红细胞具有氧化作用,建议G6PD缺乏者慎用富含氧化性黄酮类化合物的中草药及其制剂。     

Inhibition of rat vas deferens contractions by flavonoids in-vitro

Flavonoids are a large heterogeneous group of benzo-gamma-pyrone derivatives, which are abundantly present in our diet. In this study we investigated the effect of ten flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, morin, galangin, rutin, apigenin, flavone, naringenin, hesperitin and silybin) on the contractile response elicited by electrical field stimulation in the rat isolated vas deferens. All flavonoids tested inhibited vas deferens contractions. The relative order of potency of the tested flavonoids was naringenin > hesperitin > morin > kaempferol > apigenin > silybin > flavone > rutin > quercetin > galangin. Analysis of the chemical structures showed that the saturation of C-2-C-3 double bond and the presence of hydroxyl groups on the flavonoidic scaffold play an important role in the activity of flavonoids.     

Structure-activity relationships of the inhibitory effects of flavonoids on P-glycoprotein-mediated transport in KB-C2 cells

We studied the effects of flavonoids, naringenin (flavanone), baicalein (flavone), kaempferol, quercetin, myricetin, morin, and fisetin (flavonols) as well as two glycosides of quercetin on P-glycoprotein (P-gp) function in multidrug-resistant P-gp overexpressing KB-C2 cells. Flavonoids such as kaempferol and quercetin increased the accumulation of rhodamine-123 dependent on their chemical structure. Analysis by flow cytometry indicated that the increase in substrate accumulation was due to the inhibition of substrate efflux. Naringenin, which lacks the 2,3-double bond in the C ring, had no effect, although it was more hydrophobic than myricetin, fisetin and morin. Therefore, the planar structure of the flavonoids seemed to be important for their interaction with P-gp. The effects of other flavonoids on the accumulation of daunorubicin were in the order of kaempferol>quercetin, baicalein>myricetin>fisetin, morin. Quercetin-3-O-glucoside and rutin had no effect. The order of the effects corresponded with that of the partition coefficients. Difference in the number and position of hydroxyl groups in flavonoid molecules by themselves seemed to have little effect. These results suggested that hydrophobicity as well as planar structure is important for the inhibitory effects of flavonoids on P-gp-mediated transport.     

Heterogeneous effect of flavonoids on K+ loss and lipid peroxidation induced by oxygen-free radicals in human red cells

Treatment of fresh erythrocytes with phenazine methosulfate, an intracellular generator of oxygen-free radicals, and diethyldithiocarbamate an inhibitor of superoxide dismutase results in membrane damage consisting in lipid peroxidation and increase in passive K+ permeability. Various flavonoids which have previously been reported to act as oxygen-free radical scavengers were tested on this erythrocyte model. Surprisingly, flavonoids did not exhibit the same effect on the oxygen free radical-stimulated K+ permeability. It was possible to classify these agents into four groups: protective (those decreasing the oxygen-free radical-stimulated K+ permeability): kaempferol, naringenin, apigenin, naringin; toxic (those increasing the deleterious effect of oxygen-free radicals): myricetin, delphinidin, quercetin; biphasic effective (characterized by opposite effects depending on the concentration): phloretin, cyanin, catechin, morin and inactive: rutin, phloridzin. In addition, a similar classification was observed when membrane lipid peroxidation was examined, i.e. kaempferol decreased lipid peroxide formation whereas myricetin enhanced it, morin exhibited a biphasic effect and rutin has no effect. The previously reported metal chelating effect of flavonoids could not totally explain the protective effect of kaempferol as was demonstrated by the partial protective effect exhibited by desferrioxamine. Moreover, this study suggests that a generation of oxygen-free radicals in red cells induced a K+ loss which probably results from membrane lipid peroxidation.     

In vitro effects of selected flavonoids on the 5'-nucleotidase activity.

A series of structurally related flavonoids and related compounds were evaluated whether they have inhibitory properties on the 5'-nucleotidase (5'-ribonucleotide phosphohydrolase; EC 3.1.3.5, 5'-NT) activity. Some of the flavonoids tested inhibit the enzyme such as quercetin, morin, apigenin, chrysin, myricetin, luteolin, diosmetin, (+/-)naringenin and diosmin. Rutin, naringin, hyperosid, (+/-)catechin, caffeic acid and rosmarinic acid had no inhibitory effect on the 5'-NT activity. Myricetin and quercetin were the most potent inhibitors for 5'-NT with IC50 values of 1.1 and 1.4 microM, respectively. Kinetic analysis showed a mixed type of inhibitor for both myricetin (Ki = 1.5 microM at pH 7.45), and quercetin (Ki = 0.6 microM at pH 7.45). The K(m) value for 5'-adenosine monophosphate (5-AMP) was determined with 77 microM at pH 7.45. The differential inhibitory potencies of flavonoids seem to be structurally related (hydroxylation pattern). The results demonstrate that some flavonoids are strong inhibitors of 5'-NT activity which can be correlated to their pharmacological effects.     

Hypouricemic action of scopoletin arising from xanthine oxidase inhibition and uricosuric activity

Scopoletin exhibited an immediate and dose-dependent hypouricemic effect after intraperitoneal administration (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) in hyperuricemic mice induced by potassium oxonate; however, it did not affect the serum uric acid level in normal mice at the tested doses. For exploring the involved mechanisms of action of scopoletin, potential inhibitory effects on xanthine oxidase and possible uricosuric effects were investigated. Scopoletin (50, 100, 200 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the activity of xanthine oxidase in liver homogenates of hyperuricemic mice although it only showed a relatively weak, albeit competitive-type, inhibition of xanthine oxidase in a commercial assay. Furthermore, a potent uricosuric effect of scopoletin (100, 200 mg/kg) was ascertained. These results demonstrated for the first time that scopoletin exhibits, hypouricemic activities through decreasing uric acid production and as well as a uricosuric mechanism.     

Potent modification of inducible CYP1A1 expression by flavonoids

The present study examined modifications of β-naphthoflavone (β-NF)-induced cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) expression by flavonoids in mouse hepatocytes in primary culture. Some flavonoids (apigenin, chrysin, flavone, flavanone, galangin, luteolin, and naringenin) by themselves induced CYP1A1 mRNA expression, especially flavone which was even more effective than β-NF. The effect on β-NF-induced CYP1A1 mRNA expression was varied, namely additive, suppressive, or both. An additive effect was observed after combined treatment with flavanone, naringenin, and chrysin, whereas kaempferol, myricetin, and quercetin decreased CYP1A1 levels. Apigenin, chrysin, galangin, luteolin, and morin synergistically enhanced β-NF-induced CYP1A1 expression at 24 h, but considerably suppressed it at 9 h. The structure-activity relationship of flavonoids affecting CYP1A1 expression as inducers or inhibitors is discussed. The present observations suggest the need to reveal the mechanism by which CYP1A1 expression is modified by flavonoids for risk assessment, since CYP1A1 activates environmental carcinogenic polycyclic hydrocarbons and flavonoids are major constituents in food.     

Modulation of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1/ABCC1) transport and atpase activities by interaction with dietary flavonoids

The 190-kDa phosphoglycoprotein multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) (ABCC1) confers resistance to a broad spectrum of anticancer drugs and also actively transports certain xenobiotics with reduced glutathione (GSH) (cotransport) as well as conjugated organic anions such as leukotriene C(4) (LTC(4)). In the present study, we have investigated a series of bioflavonoids for their ability to influence different aspects of MRP1 function. Most flavonoids inhibited MRP1-mediated LTC(4) transport in membrane vesicles and inhibition by several flavonoids was enhanced by GSH. Five of the flavonoids were competitive inhibitors of LTC(4) transport (K(i), 2.4-21 microM) in the following rank order of potency: kaempferol > apigenin (+ GSH) > quercetin > myricetin > naringenin (+ GSH). These flavonoids were less effective inhibitors of 17beta-estradiol 17beta-(D-glucuronide) transport. Moreover, their rank order of inhibitory potency for this substrate differed from that for LTC(4) transport inhibition but correlated with their relative lipophilicity. Several flavonoids, especially naringenin and apigenin, markedly stimulated GSH transport by MRP1, suggesting they may be cotransported with this tripeptide. Quercetin inhibited the ATPase activity of purified reconstituted MRP1 but stimulated vanadate-induced trapping of 8-azido-alpha-[(32)P]ADP by MRP1. In contrast, kaempferol and naringenin stimulated both MRP1 ATPase activity and trapping of ADP. In intact MRP1-overexpressing cells, quercetin reduced vincristine resistance from 8.9- to 2.2-fold, whereas kaempferol and naringenin had no effect. We conclude that dietary flavonoids may modulate the organic anion and GSH transport, ATPase, and/or drug resistance-conferring properties of MRP1. However, the activity profile of the flavonoids tested differed from one another, suggesting that at least some of these compounds may interact with different sites on the MRP1 molecule.     

Esterase inhibition by grapefruit juice flavonoids leading to a new drug interaction.

Our previous studies described a newly identified potential of grapefruit juice (GFJ) in mediating pharmacokinetic drug interactions due to its capability of esterase inhibition. The current study identifies the active components in GFJ responsible for its esterase-inhibitory effect. The esterase-inhibitory potential of 10 constitutive flavonoids and furanocoumarins toward p-nitrophenylacetate (PNPA) hydrolysis was investigated. The furanocoumarins bergamottin, 6',7'-dihydroxybergamottin, and bergapten, and the glycoside flavonoids naringin and hesperidin, at concentrations found in GFJ or higher, did not inhibit the hydrolysis of PNPA by purified porcine esterase and human liver microsomes. However, the flavonoid aglycones morin, galangin, kaempferol, quercetin, and naringenin showed appreciable inhibition of PNPA hydrolysis in purified porcine esterase, and human and rat liver systems. In Caco-2 cells, demonstrated to contain minimal CYP3A activity, the permeability coefficient of the prodrugs lovastatin and enalapril was increased in the presence of the active flavonoids kaempferol and naringenin, consistent with inhibition of esterase activity. In rats, oral coadministration of kaempferol and naringenin with these prodrugs led to significant increases in plasma exposure to the active acids. In addition, in portal vein-cannulated rats, coadministration of lovastatin with kaempferol (10 mg/kg) led to a 154% and a 113% increase in the portal plasma exposure to the prodrug and active acid, respectively, compared with coadministration with water. The contribution of CYP3A inhibition was demonstrated to be minimal. Overall, a series of flavonoids present in GFJ are identified as esterase inhibitors, of which kaempferol and naringenin are shown to mediate pharmacokinetic drug interaction with the prodrugs lovastatin and enalapril due to their capability of esterase inhibition.     

Inhibitory effect of flavonoids on sulfo- and glucurono-conjugation of acetaminophen in rat cultured hepatocytes and liver subcellular preparations

A large group of flavonoids was investigated for inhibitory effects on sulfo- and glucurono-conjugation of acetaminophen when added to rat cultured hepatocytes and liver subcellular preparations. The flavonoids inhibited the production of both sulfate and glucuronide conjugates in the cultured cells, with potencies that depended on the specific flavonoid. Among the flavonols, quercetin, kaempferol and galangin were much more effective than myricetin and morin. Flavones including luteolin, apigenin and chrysin were as effective as the corresponding three flavonols above. The inhibition of conjugation by other simple flavones such as 3-, 5-, 7- and 3',4'-OH flavones, and by catechins such as epicatechin and epigallocatechin, was very weak. These data suggest that the presence of both C5 and 7 hydroxyl substitutions on the A-ring in the flavone structure is required for effective inhibitory activity. The effect of flavonoids on sulfo- and glucurono-conjugation was also examined by incubating acetaminophen with isolated liver cytosolic and microsomal preparations, respectively. The active flavonoids in the cells remarkably inhibited the sulfation, but not glucuronidation, in cell-free enzymatic preparations in vitro. The mechanism of inhibition of conjugation by flavonoids in cultured hepatocytes is not likely to depend on the direct inhibition of sulfo- and glucurono-transferase activity by flavonoids.     

Dietary flavonoids as proteasome inhibitors and apoptosis inducers in human leukemia cells

It has been shown that proteasome activity is required for cancer cell survival and consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased cancer risk. Previously, we reported that grape extract could inhibit proteasome activity and induce apoptosis in tumor cells. In this study, we examined the flavonoids apigenin, quercetin, kaempferol and myricetin for their proteasome-inhibitory and apoptosis-inducing abilities in human tumor cells. We report that apigenin and quercetin are much more potent than kaempferol and myricetin at: (i) inhibiting chymotrypsin-like activity of purified 20S proteasome and of 26S proteasome in intact leukemia Jurkat T cells; (ii) accumulating putative ubiquitinated forms of two proteasome target proteins, Bax and Inhibitor of nuclear factor kappabeta-alpha in Jurkat T cells and (iii) inducing activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase in Jurkat T cells. The proteasome-inhibitory abilities of these compounds correlated with their apoptosis-inducing potencies. Results from computational modeling of the potential interactions of these flavonoids to the chymotrypsin site (beta5 subunit) of the proteasome were consistent with the obtained proteasome-inhibitory activities. We found that the C(4) carbon may be a site of nucleophilic attack by the OH group of N-terminal threonine of proteasomal beta5 subunit and that the C(3) hydroxyl may alter the ability of these flavonoids to inhibit the proteasome. Finally, apigenin neither effectively inhibited the proteasome activity nor induced apoptosis in non-transformed human natural killer cells. Our results suggested that the proteasome may be a target of these dietary flavonoids in human tumor cells and that inhibition of the proteasome by flavonoids may be one of the mechanisms responsible for their cancer-preventive effects.     

Degradation of flavonoid aglycones by rabbit,rat and human fecal flora

The degradation of thirteen flavonoid aglycones-wogonin, diosmetin, hesperetin, baicalein, morin, genistein, daidzein, quercetin, naringenin, luteolin, kaempferol, apigenin and neophellamuretin-were investigated in rabbit, rat and human fecal flora suspensions as well as in artificial intestinal juice, using high performance liquid chromatography. Separation were performed with a Cosmosil 5C(18)-AR II column by isocratic and gradient elution with 0.1% (v/v) phosphoric acid-acetonitrile as a mobile phase, and detected at 254 nm. The flow rate was 1.0 ml/min. 5,7-Dimethoxycoumarin was used as the internal standard. The result indicated that all flavonoid aglycones except baicalein, diosmetin and quercetin were quite stable in artificial intestinal juice, whereas all were degraded in rabbit, rat and human feces suspension. In rabbit feces, wogonin, diosmetin and hesperetin were less degraded, whereas neophellamuretin, apigenin, kaempferol, luteolin, and naringenin were the most extensively degraded. In rat feces, wogonin and diosmetin were least degraded, whereas kaempferol, quercetin, genistein, luteolin, naringenin and neophellamuretin were extensively degraded. As in human feces, wogonin, daidzein and diosmetin were less degraded, whereas morin, genistein, baicalein, and quercetin were extensively degraded. In conclusion, wogonin and diosmetin were among the less degraded ones for all three feces tested. The presence of a methoxy group on the A or B ring of the flavonoid seems to protect the structure from bacterial degradation.     

Antioxidant activity and flavonoid composition of the new nootropic preparation polynoophyt

The antioxidant activity of the new nootropic preparation polynoophyt has been experimentally studied on a model of hypobaric hypoxia in animals. The flavonoid composition of polynoophyt has been determined, which includes apigenin, hesperidin, luteolin, naringenin, baicalin, quercetin, myricetin, kaempferol, and gallic acid. __________ Translated from Khimiko-Farmatsevticheskii Zhurnal, Vol. 41, No. 10, pp. 22–25, October, 2007.     

Modulation of activator protein-1 (AP-1) and MAPK pathway by flavonoids in human prostate cancer PC3 cells

In last couple of decades the use of natural compounds like flavonoids as chemopreventive agents has gained much attention. Our current study focuses on identifying chemopreventive flavonoids and their mechanism of action on human prostate cancer cells. Human prostate cancer cells (PC3), stably transfected with activator protein 1 (AP-1) luciferase reporter gene were treated with four main classes of flavonoids namely flavonols, flavones, flavonones, and isoflavones. The maximum AP-1 luciferase induction of about 3 fold over control was observed with 20 microM concentrations of quercetin, chrysin and genistein and 50 microM concentration of kaempferol. At higher concentrations, most of the flavonoids demonstrated inhibition of AP-1 activity. The MTS assay for cell viability at 24 h showed that even at a very high concentration (500 microM), cell death was minimal for most of the flavonoids. To determine the role of MAPK pathway in the induction of AP-1 by flavonoids, Western blot of phospho MAPK proteins was performed. Four out of the eight flavonoids namely kaempferol, apigenin, genistein and naringenin were used for the Western Blot analysis. Induction of phospho-JNK and phospho-ERK activity was observed after two hour incubation of PC3-AP1 cells with flavonoids. However no induction of phospho-p38 activity was observed. Furthermore, pretreating the cells with specific inhibitors of JNK reduced the AP-1 luciferase activity that was induced by genistein while pretreatment with MEK inhibitor reduced the AP-1 luciferase activity induced by kaempferol. The pharmacological inhibitors did not affect the AP-1 luciferase activity induced by apigenin and naringenin. These results suggest the possible involvement of JNK pathway in genistein induced AP-1 activity while the ERK pathway seems to play an important role in kaempferol induced AP-1 activity.     

黄酮类化合物对心肌细胞凋亡的作用

目的观察黄酮类化合物包括高良姜素(G)、山萘酚(K)、芹菜素(A)、桑色素(M)、槲皮素(Q)、杨梅素(MY)对H2O2诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的作用,并探讨其可能的作用机制。方法培养新生Wistar乳鼠心肌细胞,随机分为正常组、模型组、药物组。分别用荧光染色法、琼脂糖凝胶电泳法、Western blot法观察心肌细胞凋亡情况及蛋白表达的变化。结果100μmol·L-1H2O2孵育心肌细胞16 h能明显诱导心肌细胞凋亡(P<0.01),黄酮类化合物能降低细胞凋亡率,抑制DNA损伤,上调bcl-2、bcl-xl,下调bax蛋白表达。结论黄酮类化合物能抗氧化,从而抑制心肌细胞凋亡,主要是通过线粒体死亡途径调节bcl-2家族蛋白表达来发挥作用的。     

Effects of hydroxylated flavonoids on the ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and benzo(α)pyrene hydroxylase

In order to understand the mechanism of action of flavonoids on the drug metabolizing enzyme, cytochrome P4501A1, this study was undertaken to examine the effect of chrysin, morin, myricetin and aminopyrine on the activities of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase and benzo(α) pyrene hydroxylase in the liver. In the isolated perfused rat liver that was pretreated with 3-methylcholanthrene (3MC), chrysin, morin, myricetin and aminopyrine inhibited the activity of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase with concentration dependent manner. The isolated liver perfusion with chrysin, morin, myricetin and aminopyrine showed inhibition on the induction of ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase by 3MC. And also, in mouse liver hepa I cells, 3MC-stimulated the benzo(α)pyrene hydroxylase activity which was inhibited by chrysin, morin, myricetin and aminopyrine. These results strongly suggested that hydoxylated flavonoids interfered not only the induction of cytochrome P450IA1 enzymes by 3MC but also the interaction of substrates and enzyme.     

The use of a high-volume screening procedure to assess the effects of dietary flavonoids on human cyp1a1 expression.

We examined the effects of several agents, including dietary flavonoids, on CYP1A1 expression utilizing a recently developed high-throughput screening system for assessing human cytochrome P450 (CYP) induction. HepG2 cells, stably integrated with regulatory regions of human CYP1A1, were treated with resveratrol, apigenin, curcumin, kaempferol, green tea extract (GTE), (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), quercetin, and naringenin. Of these flavonoids, resveratrol produced the greatest increase in CYP1A1-mediated luciferase activity (10-fold), whereas GTE, apigenin, curcumin, and kaempferol produced 2- to 3-fold increases in activity. Compared with 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), omeprazole, or benzanthracene, where increases in luciferase activity ranged from 12- to 35-fold, these flavonoids exhibited weak agonist activity. The remaining compounds, EGCG, quercetin, and naringenin, produced negligible effects. Cotreatment of cells with TCDD and GTE, naringenin, and apigenin resulted in 58, 77, and 74% reductions, respectively, in TCDD-mediated CYP1A1 induction, indicating that these flavonoids exhibit potential antagonist activity toward the aryl hydrocarbon (Ah) receptor. Furthermore, results also suggest that GTE and apigenin possess Ah receptor antagonist and weak agonist activities. Thus, we have shown that a 96-well plate assay allowing high-throughput screening for P450 induction in less than 24 h was efficient in determining the effects of flavonoids on human CYP1A expression. Signal-to-noise ratios were low, and well-to-well and replicate variability was below 10%, allowing induction to be easily detected in this system. These features illustrate the reliability and feasibility of this high-volume screening system for identifying CYP inducers. Furthermore, results produced with the stable cell line were corroborated in HepG2 cells and primary cultures of human hepatocytes, suggesting that stably integrated cell lines harboring enhancer elements of P450 genes may be highly conducive to high-throughput screening.     

染料木素等5种黄酮类物质对小鼠血清尿酸水平及黄嘌呤氧化酶活性的影响

目的探讨黄酮类化合物染料木素、芹菜素、槲皮素、芦丁和落新妇苷体外对黄嘌呤氧化酶活性的影响,对正常小鼠血清和肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶活性的影响,同时评价对小鼠血清尿酸水平的作用。方法采用改良的紫外分光光度法测定染料木素、芹菜素、槲皮素、芦丁和落新妇苷体外对黄嘌呤氧化酶的抑制作用,采用分光光度法研究对小鼠血清和肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶活性的影响,以磷钨酸法测定对小鼠血清尿酸水平的作用。结果体外实验表明黄酮类化合物染料木素、芹菜素、槲皮素、芦丁和落新妇苷体外对黄嘌呤氧化酶活性无明显影响。体内实验观察到这5种黄酮类化合物能够显著升高或降低黄嘌呤氧化酶的活性;而且,血清尿酸水平与血清黄嘌呤氧化酶活性密切相关,与肝脏黄嘌呤氧化酶活性无明显关联。用这些黄酮类化合物给药的小鼠血清尿酸水平都高于正常对照组。结论这5种黄酮类化合物不能够作为替代别嘌醇的药物用来降低血清尿酸水平。     

Isozyme- and gender-specific induction of glutathione<Emphasis Type="Italic"> S</Emphasis>-transferases by flavonoids

Most dietary flavonoids have antioxidant activity in vitro however, secondary mechanisms such as the ability to influence gene expression with the consequent modulation of specific enzymatic activities involved in the intracellular response against oxidative stress, are being realized. In the following study, we examined the ability of the flavonoids: flavone, morin, naringenin, (+)-catechin, and quercetin to modulate the activity of glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) mGSTA, mGSTP and mGSTM in hepatic tissues of male and female Swiss Webster mice. Subchronic dietary exposure to morin, naringenin, (+)-catechin, and quercetin (2,500 mg/kg diet for 20 days) did not produce statistically significant changes in GST activity. Conversely, gender-, and isozyme-specific induction of mGSTs were observed in animals fed flavone. A sevenfold increase in total mGST activity was observed in female animals whereas a fourfold increase was observed in male animals. Enzyme specific assays indicate that there were greater increases of both mGSTM (eightfold) and mGSTP (fourfold) activities in females as compared to males (sixfold and twofold, respectively). As testosterone is involved in the regulation of GSTs in mice, castrated males were fed flavone for 5 days (2,500 mg/kg diet). In this case, dietary flavone resulted in similar fourfold increases in total GST activity in inact and castrated animals. Isozyme specific studies indicate that increases could be attributed to an induction of mGSTM and mGSTP.