title: Screening of the inhibitory effect of vegetable constituents on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
abstract: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated nuclear transcription factor that mediates responses to environmental contaminants such as dioxins, which have many adverse health effects. We performed a preliminary screening of the inhibitory effects of vegetable constituents on 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced activation of AhR using the AhR-based bioassay for dioxins, the Ah-Immunoassay. Ninety vegetable constituents including flavonoids, tannins, saponins, terpenes, etc., were assayed in vitro. Among them, flavones, flavonols, anthraquinones, piperine, coumestrol, brevifolincarboxylic acid, and resveratrol showed marked inhibitory effects on AhR-based bioassay activation by TCDD, and their effects were dose dependent. Curcumin, carnosol, and capsaicin also inhibited the activation of AhR in this assay, although to a lesser degree. These results suggest that several vegetable constituents might play a role in protection against dioxin toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Division of Foods, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. amakura@nihs.go.jp
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Amakura
authors.forename: Tomoaki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tsutsumi
authors.forename: Kumiko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sasaki
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Tamio
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maitani
mesh_terms: D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010598:Pharmacognosy / Q000379:methods; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014675:Vegetables / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D010936:Plant Extracts; D000072317:Polychlorinated Dibenzodioxins; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon