Paradoxical action of solvents on bacterial and liver beta-glucuronidases.

Dichloromethane and chloroform have been found to inhibit the action of liver beta-glucuronidase on phenolphthalein glucuronic acid at concentrations which produce a considerable enhancement of bacterial beta-glucuronidase. Other solvents, including n-butanol, benzene, and toluene, have very little effect on the liver enzyme but nevertheless potentiate the bacterial enzyme.