title: In vitro biotransformation of flavonoids by rat liver microsomes.
abstract: 1. Sixteen naturally occurring flavonoids were investigated as substrates for cytochrome P450 in uninduced and Aroclor 1254-induced rat liver microsomes. Naringenin, hesperetin, chrysin, apigenin, tangeretin, kaempferol, galangin and tamarixetin were all metabolized extensively by induced rat liver microsomes but only to a minor extent by uninduced microsomes. No metabolites were detected from eriodictyol, taxifolin, luteolin, quercetin, myricetin, fisetin, morin or isorhamnetin. 2. The identity of the metabolites was elucidated using lc-ms and 1H-nmr, and was consistent with a general metabolic pathway leading to the corresponding 3',4'-dihydroxylated flavonoids either by hydroxylation or demethylation. Structural requirements for microsomal hydroxylation appeared to be a single or no hydroxy group on the B-ring of the flavan nucleus. The presence of two or more hydroxy groups on the B-ring seemed to prevent further hydroxylation. The results indicate that demethylation only occurs in the B-ring when the methoxy group is positioned at C4', and not at the C3'-position. 3. The CYP1A isozymes were found to be the main enzymes involved in flavonoid hydroxylation, whereas other cytochrome P450 isozymes seem to be involved in flavonoid demethylation.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Toxicology, Danish Veterinary and Food Administration, Søborg, Denmark.
authors.forename: S E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Nielsen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Breinholt
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Justesen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cornett
authors.forename: L O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: Dragsted
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001140:Aroclors; D001711:Biotransformation; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000378:metabolism; D004790:Enzyme Induction; D005419:Flavonoids / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008862:Microsomes, Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D001140:Aroclors; D005419:Flavonoids; D020111:Chlorodiphenyl (54% Chlorine); D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System