EFFECTS OF KANPYO POWDER ON THE DRUG-META BOLIZING SYSTEM OF RATS TREATED WITH AMARANTH

Male rats were fed a diet supplemented with 2% amaranth and/or 10% Kan pyo powder for 30 days. Hepatic cytochrome P-450 content and arylhydro carbon hydroxylase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT), sulfotransfer ase and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activities, as well as intesti nal UDPGT and GST activities, were determined. Among the enzymes, only intestinal microsomal UDPGT activity was significantly lowered by ama ranth, and this effect was prevented by the addition of Kanpyo powder. Rats fed Kanpyo diet showed a significant increase in hepatic GST act ivity compared to the untreated rats, regardless of amaranth addition. These data suggest that Kanpyo powder might modify the drug-metaboliz ing enzyme system, and thus contribute to protection of rats from the harmful effects of xenobiotic compounds such as amaranth.