Purpose: Curcumin, a major constituent of the spice turmeric, suppresses expression of the enzyme cyclooxygenase 2 (Cox-2) and has cancer chemopreventive properties in rodents. It possesses poor systemic availability. We explored whether formulation with phosphatidylcholine increases the oral bioavailability or affects the metabolite profile of curcumin. Methods

Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4 0 -trihydroxystilbene) is a naturally occurring polyphenol with cancer chemopreventive properties in preclinical models of carcinogenesis, including those of colorectal cancer. Recently, a variety of analogues of resveratrol have been synthesised and investigated in in vitro assays. One analogue, 3,4,5,4 0 -tetramethoxystilbene (DMU 212), showed preferential growth-inhibitory and proapoptotic properties in transformed cells, when compared with their untransformed counterparts. As part of a chemoprevention drug development programme, the pharmacokinetic properties of DMU 212 were compared with those of resveratrol in the plasma, liver, kidney, lung, heart, brain and small intestinal and colonic mucosa of mice. DMU 212 or resveratrol (240 mg kg À1 ) were administered intragastrically, and drug concentrations were measured by HPLC. Metabolites were characterised by cochromatography with authentic reference compounds and were identified by mass spectrometry. The ratios of area of plasma or tissue concentration vs time curves of resveratrol over DMU 212 (AUC res /AUC DMU212 ) for the plasma, liver, small intestinal and colonic mucosa were 3.5, 5, 0.1 and 0.15, respectively. Thus, resveratrol afforded significantly higher levels than DMU 212 in the plasma and liver, while DMU 212 exhibited superior availability compared to resveratrol in the small intestine and colon. Resveratrol was metabolised to its sulphate or glucuronate conjugates, while DMU 212 underwent metabolic hydroxylation or single and double O-demethylation. DMU 212 and resveratrol inhibited the growth of human-derived colon cancer cells HCA-7 and HT-29 in vitro with IC 50 values of between 6 and 26 mM. In the light of the superior levels achieved in the gastrointestinal tract after the administration of DMU 212, when compared to resveratrol, the results provide a good rationale to evaluate DMU 212 as a colorectal cancer chemopreventive agent.

Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and 3,3-diindolylmethane (DIM) are promising cancer chemopreventive agents in rodent models, but there is a paucity of data on their pharmacokinetics and tissue disposition. The disposition of I3C and its acid condensation products, DIM, [2-(indol-3-ylmethyl)-indol-3-yl]indol-3-ylmethane (LTr 1 ), indolo[3,2b]carbazole (ICZ) and 1-(3-hydroxymethyl)-indolyl-3-indolylmethane (HI-IM) was studied, after oral administration of I3C (250 mg/kg) to female CD-1 mice. Blood, liver, kidney, lung, heart, and brain were collected between 0.25 and 24 h after administration and the plasma and tissue concentrations of I3C and its derivatives determined by high-performance liquid chromotography. I3C was rapidly absorbed, distributed, and eliminated from plasma and tissues, falling below the limit of detection by 1 h. Highest concentrations of I3C were detected in the liver where levels were approximately 6-fold higher than those in the plasma. Levels of DIM, LTr 1 , and HI-IM were much lower, although they persisted in plasma and tissues for considerably longer. DIM and HI-IM were still present in the liver 24 h after I3C administration. Tissue levels of DIM and LTr 1 were found to be in equilibrium with plasma at almost every time point measured. In addition to acid condensation products of I3C, a major oxidative metabolite (indole-3-carboxylic acid) and a minor oxidative metabolite (indole-3-carboxaldehyde) were detected in plasma of mice after oral administration of I3C. ICZ was also tentatively identified in the liver of these mice. This study shows for the first time that, after oral administration to mice, I3C, in addition to its acid condensation products, is absorbed from the gut and distributed systemically into a number of well-perfused tissues, thus allowing the possibility for some pharmacological activity of the parent compound in vivo.

The intravenous toxicity to the rat of 36 pyrethroids has been examined. With two exceptions they cause either (1) T-syndrome, consisting of aggressive sparring, sensitivity to external stimuli, fine progressing to gross whole body tremor and prostration or (2) CS-syndrome, consisting of pawing and burrowing behaviour, salivation, coarse tremor, progressing to sinuous writhing (choreoathetosis) and clonic seizures. The two exceptions presented a TS-syndrome with salivation associated with the T-syndrome. No clearcut relationship between chemical structure and symptoms of poisoning has emerged through some generalisations are discussed.

ABSTRACT:3,3-Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a naturally occurring indole, which is currently under investigation as a potential chemopreventive agent. The concentrations of DIM in plasma, liver, kidney, lung, heart, and brain tissues were determined following oral administration of two different formulations to mice (250 mg/kg). Mice were sacrificed periodically from 0 to 24 h after administration of either a crystalline or an absorption-enhanced formulation (BioResponse-DIM; Indolplex) of DIM, and plasma and tissue concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (UV detection, 280 nm). A physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed to characterize the pharmacokinetic properties of the two different formulations. The final model included parameters reflecting linear firstorder absorption, systemic clearance, and distributional clearance in the remainder compartment, which were considered independent of formulation. All pharmacokinetic profiles from the two formulations were fitted simultaneously to estimate unknown model parameters. Plasma and tissue concentrationtime profiles exhibited a rapid rise to peak values at 0.5 to 1 h, followed by a polyexponential decline with an extended terminal phase. These profiles were well described by the final model and unknown parameters were estimated with relatively low coefficients of variation. Relative drug exposure and absorption parameters suggest that BioResponse-DIM exhibited approximately 50% higher bioavailability than the crystalline formulation. Clearance of DIM was estimated as 7.18 ml/h. This is the first study to characterize the pharmacokinetics of DIM in mice, and the established PBPK model should prove useful in the design and analysis of future preclinical studies aimed at evaluating the in vivo pharmacological effects of DIM.

Tricin, a flavone found in rice bran, inhibits the growth of human-derived malignant MDA-MB-468 breast tumour cells at submicromolar concentrations. As part of the exploration of tricin as a potential cancer chemopreventive agent, we investigated the duration and cell cycle specificity of growth inhibition elicited by tricin in vitro and the effect of tricin on the development of MDA-MB-468 tumours grown in immune-compromised MF-1 mice in vivo. Preincubation of MDA-MB-468 cells with tricin (1 -40 mM) for 72 h compromised cell growth after tricin removal, and such irreversibility was not observed in human breast-derived nonmalignant HBL-100 cells. Tricin (X5 mM) arrested MDA-MB-468 cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle without inducing apoptosis as adjudged by annexin V staining. In nude mice consumption of tricin with the diet (0.2%, w w À1 ) from 1 week prior to MDA-MB-468 cell implantation failed to impede tumour development. Steady-state levels of tricin in plasma, breast tumour tissue and intestinal mucosa, as measured by HPLC, were 0.13 mM and 0.11 and 63 nmol g À1 , respectively. Cells were exposed to tricin (0.11, 1.1 or 11 mM) in vitro for 72 h and then implanted into mice. The volume of tumours in animals bearing cells pre-exposed to 11 mM tricin was less than a third of that in mice with control cells, while tumours from cells incubated with 0.1 or 1.1 mM tricin were indistinguishable from controls. These results suggest that the potent breast tumour cell growth-inhibitory activity of tricin in vitro does not directly translate into activity in the nude mouse bearing the MDA MB-468 tumour. While the results do not support the notion that tricin is a promising candidate for breast cancer chemoprevention, its high levels in the gastrointestinal tract after dietary intake render exploration of its ability to prevent colorectal carcinogenesis propitious.

During a malaria eradication programme in Pakistan in 1976, out of 7,500 spraymen, 2,800 became poisoned and 5 died. The major determinant of this poisoning has been identified as isomalathion present as an impurity in the malathion. It seems almost certain that the isomalathion was produced during storage of the formulated malathion. The quantitative correlation found between isomalathion content and toxicity of many field samples of malathion has been confirmed by an examination of mixtures of pure compounds. Addition of known amounts of isomalathion to technical malathion indicates that other active substances are present. These impurities have been identified (trimethyl phosphorothioates) and have been shown to behave like isomalathion in potentiating the toxicity of malathion. Some preliminary work on their toxicological properties is reported. The mechanisms involved in the potentiation of the toxicity of malathion are discussed.

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