Synergistic effect of antioxidant phenolic acids on human phenolsulfotransferase activity

Sulfate conjugation by phenolsulfotransferases (PSTs) is an important process in the detoxification of xenobiotics and endogenous compounds. There are two forms of PSTs for the sulfation of small phenols (PST-P) and monoamines (PST-M). Phenolic acids are known to increase the activities of PST-P and PST-M. The purpose of this study is to investigate the synergistic effect of the combinations of phenolic acids on human PSTs activities. The combinations of p-hydroxybenzoic acid, gentisic acid, ferulic acid, gallic acid, and coumaric acid in a random order for their effects on PSTs activities were evaluated at concentrations of 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 microM. The PST-M activity was significantly increased when gentisic acid was combined with each of the other phenolic acids. When p-hydroxybenzoic acid was combined with each of the other phenolic acids, a synergistic effect with respect to the promotion of PST-P activity was obtained. A potential synergistic effect for the PST-P activity was also found in the following combination: p-hydroxybenzoic acid + gallic acid + gentisic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid + gallic acid + m-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid + o-coumaric acid + p-coumaric acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid + o-coumaric acid + m-coumaric acid, gallic acid + gentisic acid + p-coumaric acid, and gallic acid + o-coumaric acid + m-coumaric acid. Therefore, the activities of both forms of PSTs can be promoted by all of these combinations of phenolic acids. These results provide a better understanding regarding the effect of phenolic acids on human PSTs activities, as well as more information on the intake of antioxidant phenolic acids for human health.