Brief Reports Open Access
Copyright ©2005 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Jan 21, 2005; 11(3): 389-392
Published online Jan 21, 2005. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v11.i3.389
Effects of frying oil and Houttuynia cordata thunb on xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system of rodents
Ya-Yen Chen, Jen-Fang Liu, Graduate Institute of Nutrition & Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Chiao-Ming Chen, Graduate Institute of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
Pi-Yu Chao, Department of Food and Nutrition, Chinese Culture University, Taipei, Taiwan
Tsan-Ju Chang, Taoyuan District, Agriculture Improvement Station, Taipei Branch, Taiwan
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Grant From the National Science Council of Taiwan, No. NSC 90-2320-13-038-038
Correspondence to: Dr. Jen-Fang Liu, Graduate Institute of Nutrition and Health Sciences, Taipei Medical University, 250 Wu-Shing Street, Taipei 110, Taiwan. liujenfa@tmu.edu.tw
Telephone: +886-2-27361661-6551 Fax: +886-2-27373112
Received: March 3, 2004
Revised: March 5, 2004
Accepted: March 9, 2004
Published online: January 21, 2005

Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the effects of frying oil and Houttuynia cordata Thunb (H. cordata), a vegetable traditionally consumed in Taiwan, on the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system of rodents.

METHODS: Forty-eight Sprague-Dawley rats were fed with a diet containing 0%, 2% or 5% H. cordata powder and 15% fresh soybean oil or 24-h oxidized frying oil (OFO) for 28 d respectively. The level of microsomal protein, total cytochrome 450 content (CYP450) and enzyme activities including NADPH reductase, ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD), pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD), aniline hydroxylase (ANH), aminopyrine demethylase (AMD), and quinone reductase (QR) were determined. QR represented phase II enzymes, the rest of the enzymes tested represented phase I enzymes.

RESULTS: The oxidized frying oil feeding produced a significant increase in phase I and II enzyme systems, including the content of CYP450 and microsomal protein, and the activities of NADPH reductase, EROD, PROD, ANH, AMD and QR in rats (P<0.05). In addition, the activities of EROD, ANH and AMD decreased and QR increased after feeding with H. cordata in OFO-fed group (P<0.05). The feeding with 2% H. cordata diet showed the most significant effect.

CONCLUSION: The OFO diet induces phases I and II enzyme activity, and the 2% H. cordata diet resulted in a better regulation of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system.

Key Words: Frying oil; Houttuynia cordata thunb; Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system



INTRODUCTION

The liver is the primary site of drug metabolism and detoxification. Cytochrome P450 (CYP 450) enzymes are the predominant proteins in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum representing about 5% to 25% of the total protein. They are responsible for the metabolism of most drugs, both endogenous and exogenous compounds, including steroid hormones and xenobiotics[1-3]. Cytochrome P450 enzymes, the major phase I components, have multiple roles in animals. They are important in bioactivation of chemical carcinogens, biotransformation of many endogenous vitamins and steroids, and detoxification of numerous xenobiotics[4,5]. Phase II components, which include transferases, dehydrogenases and glucuronidases, are involved in conjugation and detoxification reactions. Both phase I and phase II enzymes have important health implications for both animals and humans and have been reported to be influenced by various dietary factors[6] such as fried oil[7-9].

A high dietary intake of fat is prevalent in most developed countries, and fried foods are a principal fat source in the modern diet. According to a recent study[10], consumption of fried food is closely related to many chronic diseases, such as cancer and hyperlipidemia. One reason why the consumption of frying oil may influence the risk of chronic diseases is that it has a significant effect on CYP450. Polyphenols, which are plentiful in plants, also play an important role in CYP450 regulation[6]. Houttuynia cordata (H. cordata) Thunb, a traditional vegetable in Taiwan, which contains a high amount of polyphenol, has been showed to have both antioxidative and antimutagenic properties under OFO-feeding-induced oxidative stress[11]. This study was designed to assess the effect of frying oil and H. cordata thunb on CYP450 and xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system in rodents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS
Diets and animal care

H·cordata thunb was harvested and gathered at Taoyuan District’s Agriculture Improvement Station, Taipei Branch, Northern Taiwan. The H. cordata was dried with a lyophilizer. One kilogram of fresh H. cordata produced about 150 g dry H. cordata powder after lyophilization. The OFO used in this experiment was prepared as that reported previously[11,12]. The OFO diets contained 15 g of OFO per 100 g of diet supplemented with 0%, 2% or 5% H. cordata powder as the O0, O20 and O50 groups, respectively. The control diets contained 15 g of fresh soybean oil per 100 g of diet, also supplemented with 0%, 2% or 5% H. cordata powder as the F0, F20 and F50 groups respectively (Table 1). Forty-eight male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were purchased from the National Science Council Animal Center, Taipei. The animals were treated in accordance with the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals as reported previously[13].

Table 1 Composition of diets tested.
ComponentDiet
F0F20F50O0O20O50
g/kg diet
Cornstarch449.5442.5431.6449.5442.5431.6
Casein200195.4188.6200195.4188.6
Sucrose100100100100100100
Fresh oil150150150
OFO1150150150
Fiber5041.629.35041.629.3
Minerals2353535353535
Vitamins3101010101010
L-Cysteine333333
Choline2.52.52.52.52.52.5
Tert-butyl- hydroquinone0.0140.0140.0140.0140.0140.014
H. cordata powder0205002020
Tissue sampling and preparation

After 28 d of feeding, the rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital. Livers were excised and weighed, and a portion of the liver sample was immediately homogenized in ice-cold 0.01 mol/L potassium phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) containing 11.5 g/L KCl. Aliquots of the crude homogenate 250 g/L were centrifuged at 12000 g for 20 min to obtain the post-mitochondrial supernatant (PMS). Aliquots of the PMS were centrifuged at 105 000 g for 60 min to obtain the microsomal pellets (MPs). The MPs were suspended in 0.05 mol/L phosphate buffer (pH 7.7) containing 10 mmol/L EDTA and 30% glycerol. Both PMS and MPs were stored at -80 °C until being analyzed. The remaining liver portion was frozen in liquid nitrogen and stored at -80 °C.

Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system analysis

Microsomal protein was quantified using the Lowry method[14]. Total CYP450 content was determined using a dithionite CO-binding difference spectrum according to the procedure previously described[15]. NADPH reductase activity was determined using the method of Phillips and Langdon[16]. Ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) and pentoxyresorufin O-dealkylase (PROD) activities were assayed according to the method of Lubet et al[17]. Aniline hydroxylase (ANH) and aminopyrine demethylase (AMD) activities were assayed according to the methods of Kato et al and Carpenter et al[18,19]. Quinone reductase (QR) activity was assayed according to the method of Benson et al[20]. The CYP450 content and the activities of NADPH reductase, EROD, PROD, ANH, and AMD represented the phase I enzymes, while QR represented the phase II enzymes.

Statistical analysis

Significant differences between the groups were analyzed using a two-way ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range test using the General Linear Model of the SAS package. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS
Growth and nutritional status of animals

Following 28 d of feeding, the body weight gained in OFO-fed SD rats was significantly lower than that in the control animals (Table 2). The feeding efficiency of rats fed with the OFO diet (O0) was significantly lower than that of the controls (F0). However, supplementation with H. cordata (O20 and O50) improved the feeding efficiency to a value that was not different from that of the control groups.

Table 2 Body weight gain, food intake and feed efficiency of Sprague-Dawley rats fed with fresh/oxidized frying oil and 0%, 2% and 5% H. cordata thunb powder diets for 4 wk (mean±SD, n = 8).
GroupBody weight gain (g/wk)Food intake (g/wk)Feed efficiency (B.W gain/food intake)
F046.71±3.20202.31±7.620.23±0.03
F2044.85±2.82206.22±7.820.22±0.04
F5047.54±2.36212.34±5.200.22±0.01
O035.62±2.101198.14±5.470.18±0.02
O2037.91±4.75185.25±4.660.20±0.03
O5038.54±4.55188.72±3.440.20±0.02
ANOVA2
DoseNS3NSNS
OilP<0.05NSNS
Dose×OilNSNSNS
Xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system analysis

The CYP450 content, microsomal protein, and NADPH reductase activities in OFO-fed rats were significantly higher than those in fresh oil-fed rats (Table 3). In the OFO-fed rats, the 2% H. cordata group had lower ANH and AMD activities than the 0% group (Table 4).

Table 3 Liver microsomal protein content (CYP450) and the activity of liver NADPH reductase in Sprague-Dawley rats fed with the fresh/oxidized frying oil and 0%, 2% and 5% H. cordata thunb powder diets for 4 wk (mean±SD, n = 8).
GroupMicrosomal protein (mg/g liver)CYP450 (nmol/mg protein)NADPH reductase (nmol/mg protein)
F013.36±4.7110.61±0.271202.31±28.11
F2015.66±0.9610.73±0.101228.42±30.41
F5015.79±1.3510.74±0.141225.64±25.3
O023.74±2.541.63±0.75256.03±31.12
O2022.13±3.762.14±1.10288.55±29.63
O5022.25±2.962.08±0.15234.15±25.42
ANOVA4
DoseNS5NSNS
OilP<0.05P<0.05P<0.05
Dose×OilP<0.05P<0.05NS
Table 4 Activity of aniline hydroxylase (ANH) and aminopyrine demethylase (AMD) from the liver of Sprague-Dawley rats fed with the fresh/oxidized frying oil and 0%, 2% and 5% H· cordata thunb powder diets for 4 wk (mean±SD, n = 8).
GroupANH (mmol/min/mg protein) (×10-5)AMD (nmol/min/mg protein)
F03.74±1.5416.76±0.421
F203.05±1.0615.34±1.02
F504.21±1.2516.31±0.561
O013.46±0.6138.91±0.233
O208.18±0.4326.02±0.112
O5011.74±0.3739.03±0.543
ANOVA4
DoseP<0.05NS5
OilP<0.05P<0.05
Dose×OilP<0.05P<0.05

EROD activity was significantly higher in the OFO-fed rats than in the fresh oil-fed rats. In addition, EROD activity was lower in the 2% and 5% H. cordata groups. PROD activity expression showed a similar pattern to that of EROD (Table 5). In microsomal suspension, the QR activity of OFO-fed rats was significantly higher than that of the fresh oil-fed rats. In liver homogenate, OFO also induced QR activity. In the fresh oil-fed rats, the 2% and 5% H. cordata groups had higher QR activity than the 0% group (Table 6). We found that 2% H. cordata had the largest effect on the phase I and phase II enzymes, which suggested that H. cordata could regulate the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system, possibly because there was a large amount of polyphenols in H. cordata.

Table 5 Activity of EROD and PROD from the liver of Sprague- Dawley rats fed with the fresh/oxidized frying oil and 0%, 2% and 5% H· cordata thunb powder diets for 4 wk (mean±SD, n = 8).
GroupEROD (pmol/min/mg protein)PROD (pmol/min/mg protein)
F055.61±5.1218.32±4.111
F2052.14±3.2016.12±1.251
F5052.46±4.5815.98±1.541
O088.62±5.26325.39±3.59
O2078.23±4.41220.12±2.18
O5075.26±5.89221.33±2.66
ANOVA4
DoseNS5NS
OilP<0.05P<0.05
Dose×OilNSNS
Table 6 The activity of quinone reductase from the liver of Sprague- Dawley rats fed with the fresh/oxidized frying oil and 0%, 2% and 5% H· cordata thunb powder diets for 4 wk (mean±SD, n = 8).
GroupQuinone reductase (nmol/min/mg protein)
Microsomal suspensionLiver homogenate
F0106.31±25.421170.47±25.652
F20136.54±31.85226.77±30.953
F50122.42±29.431216.37±29.853
O0145.17±30.62475.92±22.10
O20144.38±26.66490.14±15.31
O50149.74±24.85484.31±15.12
ANOVA4
DoseNS5P<0.05
OilP<0.05P<0.05
Dose×OilNSP<0.05
DISCUSSION

Chen et al[21] reported that the CYP450 content in OFO-fed rats was 1.6 times that of fresh oil-fed rats. After fried, a linolenic acid-containing oil could induce CYP450 by 4 and 6.5 folds relative to fresh soybean oil and linolenic oil respectively.

ANH is an indicator of CYP2C11. During oil frying, some chemicals with hydroxyl or carbonyl groups are produced, and these substrates will induce CYP 2C11. Chen et al[21] used soybean oil, red flower seed oil and shortening oil as study materials, and found that after fried, the amounts of carbonyl compounds in these three oils were 203 mEq/kg, 110 mEq/kg, and 3 mEq/kg, respectively. In addition, they also found that the ability of soybean oil to induce ANH activity was 2.5 times that of fresh soybean oil. Thus, it is suggested that these carbonyl compounds might induce the expression of CYP2C11.

We also compared the activities of ANH and AMD (an indicator of CYP2E1) and found that the increase in ANH was larger than that in AMD. This is because the aldehyde, acid and ketone that can induce AMD were easily vaporized and the accumulation of these in the OFO was not sufficient to strongly induce AMD[22].

PROD is an indicator of CYP2B1. Phenobarbital-type materials are the most common inducers of CYP 2B1[23]. The cyclic materials separated from the OFO resembled those of phenobarbital-type materials in structures[24]. Thus, the cyclic materials in OFO may be the major compounds to induce CYP 2B1. EROD is an indicator of CYP1A1. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) is an inducer. According to the Pon’s study[24], there are cyclic compounds but not polycyclic compounds in OFO. In fact, during the oil oxidation process, polycyclic hydrocarbon compounds will not be produced unless the temperature is higher than 300 °C and pyrolysis occurs. This can explain why the degree of induction by OFO of PROD is larger than that of EROD. In addition, CYP1A1 is the major enzyme that activates procarcinogens; thus OFO is considered to have the potential to cause tumors, as reported in a number of previous studies, by induction of this enzyme.

The enzymes measured in our study were all clinically relevant. AMD was related to hepatotoxicity induced by alcohol. EROD and PROD were related to the activation of carcinogens, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, alfatoxin and nitrosamines. QR could promote the metabolism and excretion of mutagens and carcinogens[20]. Thus, we assume that the inhibition of the phase I enzymes and the induction of the phase II enzymes by polyphenols in H. cordata is helpful to animal cells. The reason why polyphenols are meaningful in the regulation of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system is unclear at present. We know that polyphenols could influence the combined processing of fat-soluble materials, which are activated by the phase I enzymes and DNA or protein, thus decreasing the toxicity and damage to cells caused by xenobiotic fat-soluble materials[25], but further study is required.

In conclusion, the OFO diet induces phase I and phase II enzyme activities, and the 2% H. cordata diet results in a better regulation of the xenobiotic-metabolizing enzyme system. Our findings suggest that polyphenol in H. cordata can be an important and necessary factor in the defense against CYP450-mediated cancers and other chronic diseases.

Footnotes

Edited by Ren SY and Wang XL

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