1. Academic Validation
  2. Screening of the inhibitory effect of vegetable constituents on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

Screening of the inhibitory effect of vegetable constituents on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-mediated activity induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

  • Biol Pharm Bull. 2003 Dec;26(12):1754-60. doi: 10.1248/bpb.26.1754.
Yoshiaki Amakura 1 Tomoaki Tsutsumi Kumiko Sasaki Takashi Yoshida Tamio Maitani
Affiliations

Affiliation

  • 1 Division of Foods, National Institute of Health Sciences, Tokyo, Japan. amakura@nihs.go.jp
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.

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