Intrinsic acute toxicity and hepatic enzyme inducing properties of the chemoprotectants indole-3-carbinol and 5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole in mice.

Indole-3-carbinol (I-3-C) and 5,10-dihydroindeno[1,2-b]indole (DHII) have been shown to be protective against carbon tetrachloride and other chemicals that cause hepatic toxicity. In part, this protection appears to be afforded by the ability of these compounds to act as antioxidants, with DHII having much the greater efficacy. In order to understand the mechanisms of chemoprotection, as well as the potential for therapeutic and pharmaceutical use in humans, the antioxidants I-3-C and DHII were examined for their intrinsic acute toxicity, and their hepatic enzyme inducing properties in mice. The results were compared with those of the well characterized agent phenobarbital. Following treatment by gavage for 10 days with 50 mg compound/kg body weight, I-3-C produced modest (10-50%) increases in hepatic cytochrome P-450, aminopyrine N-demethylase, UDP-glucuronosyl transferase (UDPGT) and glutathione S-transferase (GST), and a four-fold increase in NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase (quinone reductase) activity. DHII did not alter oxidative enzyme activities, but increased GST and UDPGT by about 50%, and quinone reductase over five-fold. In the acute toxicity studies, DHII produced no observable 24-hr acute toxicity up to 4 g/kg body weight, except for a slight decrease in haematocrit. However, I-3-C exhibited a dose-dependent toxicity above 100 mg/kg body weight, including a decrease in hepatic reduced glutathione after 2 hr and severe neurological toxicity, and the release of liver enzymes to the plasma at 24 hr. We conclude, on the basis of the superior antioxidation efficacy of DHII, its enzyme-inducing properties, and intrinsic toxicity, that DHII or cogeners thereof have great potential as chemoprotective or therapeutic agents. However, I-3-C does not have such potential.