title: Pleiotropic effects of quercetin on the transformation of BALB 3T3 cells.
abstract: The effect of quercetin, a flavonoid, on the in vitro transformation of BALB 3T3 cells was examined. Quercetin at a low concentration (5 micrograms/ml) markedly suppressed the promoting action of 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate (TPA, 10 ng/ml) in this transformation system using 20-methylcholanthrene (MCA, 1 microgram/ml) as the initiator. At a concentration higher than 5 micrograms/ml, however, quercetin enhanced transformation by MCA. Quercetin itself was found to induce direct transformation weakly, but definitely, at a slightly higher concentration than that for enhancing MCA-induced transformation. These results indicate that quercetin has pleiotropic effects on the transformation of BALB 3T3 cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000187:drug effects*; D003864:Depression, Chemical; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D051379:Mice; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013268:Stimulation, Chemical; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D005419:Flavonoids; D008748:Methylcholanthrene; D011794:Quercetin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate