EFFECTS OF VEGETABLES-FRUIT EXTRACTS AND INDOLE-3-CARBINOL ON STEARICACID-MODULATED INTERCELLULAR COMMUNICATION AND CYTOCHROME P450-IA ACTIVITY

Modulatory effects were investigated of extracts of a vegetables-fruit mixture and indole-3-carbinol (I3C) on stearic acid-modulated gap jun ctional intercellular communication (GJIC) and cytochrome P450-IA acti vity (EROD). In V79 cells, pure water and hexane extracts of a vegetab les-fruit mixture and 25 mu g/ml I3C significantly protected against d ecreased GJIC caused by 10 mu M stearic acid. Furthermore, pure, 10x a nd 100x diluted vegetables-fruit extracts significantly maintained the ir capacity to induce EROD activity in Caco-2 cells, but only when the se extracts were added to the cells in media already containing 500 mu M stearic acid for 48 h. Stearic acid itself did not induce EROD acti vity. I3C (10, 25, and 50 mu g/ml) clearly induced EROD activity in Ca co-2 cells, irrespective of the order at which I3C and stearic acid we re added to the cells. In conclusion, the present in vitro study showe d that vegetables-fruit extracts and I3C modulate effects of stearic a cid on intercellular communication and cytochrome P450-IA activity. (C ) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.