Abstract

Phytochemicals are naturally-occurring compounds found in plants, many of which are consumed as nutritional supplements by humans. Pycnogenol is a mixture of flavonoid compounds extracted from bark of pine trees (Pinus maritima) and is commercially available in several different pharmaceutical preparations as a free radical scavenger.

Since few scientific studies have documented the pharmacologic effects of pycnogenol, our objective was to characterize the biological activity of pycnogenol. One study looked at the effects of pycnogenol on the three pathways of NNK metabolism: NNK reduction, N-oxidation and a-hydroxylation. NNK is a lung carcinogen. Lung and liver microsomes from 6 mo and 20 mo old male F344 rats were incubated with 3H-NNK in the presence of pycnogenol and following intragastric administration of pycnogenol. Pycnogenol inhibited the in vitro metabolism of NNK in both liver and lung microsomes from both age groups. Intragastric administration of pycnogenol enhanced a-hydroxylation of NNK in liver microsomes and N-oxidation of NNK in lung microsomes from either age group.

Metabolic activation of NNK depends upon cytochrome P450 enzymes (GYP). A second study looked at O-dealkylation of the substrates benzyloxyresorufin (BROD), ethoxyresorufin (EROD) and methoxyresorufin (MROD) linked to CYP2B1,2C6 and 1A2, respectively. Pycnogenol significantly inhibited BROD, EROD and MROD activity in 6 mo and 20 mo liver microsomes and inhibited BROD activity but enhanced EROD and MROD in both 6 mo and 20 mo lung microsomes. Following intragastric administration, pycnogenol inhibited BROD, EROD and MROD in both 6 mo and 20 mo liver microsomes. Pycnogenol inhibited MROD activity but enhanced EROD in 6 mo and 20 mo lung microsomes. Results from Western blot analysis of expressed CYP2B1 and CYP1A2 protein in lung and liver microsomes from pycnogenol-treated rats did not correlate with the effects of O-dealkylation in these rats.

The effect of pycnogenol on apoptosis in cultured "normal" human mammary (MCF-10) cells and human mammary cancer (MCF-7) cells in the presence of pycnogenol was also investigated. At 80 |ng/ml pycnogenol, apoptosis in MCF-7 cells was significantly increased but had no effect on apoptosis in MCF-10 cells. We conclude that pycnogenol may afford protection against NNK-induced lung cancer by modulating NNK metabolism and the activity of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Pycnogenol may also selectively induce apoptosis in cancer cells.

LLU Discipline

Pharmacology

Department

Pharmacology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Robert W. Teel

Second Advisor

John N. Buchholz

Third Advisor

Daisy DeLeon

Fourth Advisor

Benjamin H.S. Lau

Fifth Advisor

Lubo Zhang

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2000

Date (Title Page)

6-2000

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Antioxidants; Pycnogenol -- metabolism; Cytochrome P-450 -- pharmacokinetics; Apoptosis.

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

xi; 145

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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