Effects of dietary naturally occurring anticarcinogens; quercetin, flavone, ellagic acid, ferulic acid, tannic acid, curcumin, coumarin, alpha-angelicalactone, fumaric acid and Brussels sprouts on male Wistar rat hepatic and intestinal (i) glutathione S-transferases (GST) enzyme activity, (ii) GST isozyme levels and (iii) glutathione (GSH) content were investigated. GST enzyme activity was significantly increased by all anticarcinogens tested, except fumaric acid, at least at one of the five sites investigated: proximal, middle, distal small intestine, large intestine and liver. Only alpha-angelicalactone gave an enhanced GST enzyme activity at all five sites. Large intestinal GST enzyme activity was increased only by quercetin (175%) and alpha-angelicalactone (138%). Concomitant changes in GST isozyme levels occurred. Class alpha GSTs were induced in 50% of the cases, especially in liver and upper parts of the intestine by quercetin, flavone, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone. GST class pi levels were enhanced only at one site by quercetin, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone. GST class mu changed in 14% of the cases, most profoundly in proximal and middle small intestine by flavone, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone. Tannic acid and fumaric acid gave a significant raise in class alpha GSTs at almost all sites, whereas overall GST enzyme activity hardly changed. GSH was increased at various sites in 14% of the cases by Brussels sprouts, quercetin, flavone and alpha-angelicalactone. These data demonstrate that most anticarcinogens, in particular flavone, coumarin and alpha-angelicalactone, enhance GST activity in liver and intestine, mainly by induction of class alpha and mu isozymes.

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