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Liver subcellular fractions from rats treated by organosulfur compounds from Allium modulate mutagen activation

D Guyonnet1, C Belloir, M Suschetet

  • 1Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Unité de Toxicologie Nutritionnelle, BV 1540, 17 rue Sully, 21034, Dijon, France.

Mutation Research
|February 7, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Naturally occurring organosulfur compounds (OSCs) from Allium species alter mutagen activation in rats. These compounds modify cytochrome P450 enzyme activity, influencing the mutagenicity of various genotoxic substances.

Area of Science:

  • Toxicology
  • Pharmacology
  • Nutrigenomics

Background:

  • Organosulfur compounds (OSCs) are bioactive constituents found in Allium species (e.g., garlic, onions).
  • OSCs are known for their diverse biological activities, including potential chemopreventive properties.
  • The metabolic activation of mutagens is a critical step in chemical carcinogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vivo effects of specific OSCs on the metabolic activation of various mutagens.
  • To elucidate the underlying mechanisms by examining the impact of OSCs on cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme activities.

Main Methods:

  • Male Wistar rats were orally administered diallyl sulfide (DAS), diallyl disulfide (DADS), dipropyl sulfide (DPS), or dipropyl disulfide (DPDS) for four consecutive days.
  • Hepatic S9 fractions and microsomes from treated rats were used to assess the activation of mutagens (benzo[a]pyrene, cyclophosphamide, dimethylnitrosamine, N-nitrosopiperidine, 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine) in the Ames test.
  • Activities of specific CYP isozymes (CYP1A, CYP2B, CYP2E1) were measured using relevant O-dealkylase assays.

Main Results:

  • DAS, DPS, and DPDS significantly increased the mutagenicity of benzo[a]pyrene, cyclophosphamide, N-nitrosopiperidine, and 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine.
  • DADS selectively increased the mutagenicity of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine but inhibited that of N-nitrosopiperidine and benzo[a]pyrene.
  • OSCs differentially modulated CYP enzyme activities, with DAS, DPS, and DPDS enhancing CYP2B activity and DAS and DADS inhibiting CYP2E1 activity.

Conclusions:

  • In vivo administration of OSCs from Allium species significantly alters the metabolic activation of mutagens.
  • These modulatory effects are mediated by the differential induction or inhibition of specific cytochrome P450 isozymes.
  • OSCs possess the potential to modulate the toxicological outcomes of exposure to genotoxic compounds through their influence on xenobiotic metabolism.

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