| The activities of mouse liver glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) induced by myristicin, the active compound in parsley leaf oil, against the carcinogens 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) and benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide (BP-4,5-oxide) were studied. A/J mice were treated with three 20 mg doses (one dose every other day) by gavage. Affinity purified liver GST samples from treated animals showed a 7.2-fold increase in activity toward 4NQO when compared with equal amounts of liver samples prepared from the control group. Activity against BP-4,5-oxide was increased 1.8-fold in the experimental group. Experimental samples also showed a significant increase in activity toward the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB), ethacrynic acid (E-Acid), and cumene hydroperoxide. These results suggested an increase in the three major classes of GSTs alpha, mu, and pi and was further substantiated through Western blot analysis. Based on our results, myristicin could be considered an important chemopreventive agent against cancer. |
