Studies on the expression of liver detoxifying enzymes in rats fed seaweed (Monostroma nitidum)

Food Chem Toxicol. 2007 Dec;45(12):2390-6. doi: 10.1016/j.fct.2007.06.014. Epub 2007 Jun 16.

Abstract

The expression level of phase I (CYP1A1 and CYP1A2) and phase II (GST, and UGT) enzyme-coded genes were measured in liver microsomes of 30 Sprague-Dawley rats fed sea weed (Monostroma nitidum). Quantitative and qualitative analysis of the detoxifying enzymes were investigated using reverse transcription polymerase reaction (RT-PCR) and real time polymerase reaction (Real-time PCR) techniques. The antioxidative properties of seaweed were screened and investigated for its hepatoprotective activity in rat. There was no significant induction of GSTYa1, GSTYa2, and CYP1A2. However, an M. nitidum diet was found to significantly increase UGT1A1 and UGT1A6 mRNA levels and to decrease CYP1A1 mRNA levels in rat liver. Structural studies confirmed the presence of sulfated polysaccharides in the seaweed samples. The results demonstrate the potential of seaweed as a natural source of sulfated polysaccharide substances with potential use in chemoprevention medicine.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants / administration & dosage
  • Antioxidants / pharmacology*
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / drug effects
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1 / metabolism
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / drug effects
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / genetics
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2 / metabolism
  • DNA, Complementary / analysis
  • Diet*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Liver / drug effects*
  • Liver / enzymology
  • Phytotherapy*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • RNA / analysis
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Seaweed*

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • DNA, Complementary
  • RNA
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A1
  • Cytochrome P-450 CYP1A2