Effects of quercetin on drug metabolizing enzymes and oxidation of 2',7-dichlorofluorescin in HepG2 cells.

Abstract

1. The effects of quercetin on drug metabolising enzymes and oxygen radicals were studied in human HepG2 cells. 2. Cytotoxicity of quercetin in HepG2 cells was seen at 50 microM and above as evaluated by lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, neutral red (NR) uptake, and 3-(4,5-dimethyl-thiazol-2yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) reduction. 3. Quercetin inhibited activity of human cytochrome P-450 towards ethoxycoumarin and ethylresorufin at relatively low substrate concentrations (0.1 microM and above). 4. In comparison to induction by the positive control (beta-naphthoflavone; 1.0 microM), quercetin did not significantly induce the metabolism of ethoxycoumarin or glutathione-S-transferase (GST) protein or activity. 5. Response elements for human CYP1A1, GST lambda a, xenobiotic response element (XRE), fos, HSP70, CRE, p53, NF kappa B and DNA damage (GADD) in HepG2 cells were not activated by quercetin. 6. Quercetin exhibited antioxidant activity in HepG2 cells as evidenced by its ability to inhibit the oxidation of the fluorochrome dichlorofluorescin. 7. The results indicate a range of potential beneficial effects of quercetin with respect to the influence on carcinogen-metabolising enzymes, scavenging of reactive oxygen species and a lack of stress response in HepG2 cells.