Induction of Quinone Reductase and Glutathione S-Transferase in Murine Hepatoma Cells by Flavonoid Glycosides

The potential of seven flavonoid glycosides to induce quinone reductase (QR), an anticarcinogenic marker enzyme, in murine hepatoma cells (hepa1c1c7) and its mutant cells (BPRc1) was evaluated. Among test compounds, kaempferol-3-O-glucoside, luteolin-6-c-glucoside, and quercetin-3-O-glucoside (Q-3-G) induced QR in hepa1c1c7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. However, in BPRc1 cells lacking arylhydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocator (ARNT), only Q-3-G caused a significant induction of quinone reductase at the concentration range of 0.5 to 8 ug/mL, suggesting that it is a monofunctional inducer. Q-3-G induced not only phase 2 enzymes, including QR and glutathione-S-transferase, but also nitroblue tetrazolium reduction activity in HL-60 cells, a biochemical marker for cell differentiation promoting agents. In conclusion, Q-3-G merits further study to evaluate its cancer chemopreventive potential.