Hepatic glutathione S-transferase activity and aflatoxin B1-induced enzyme altered foci in rats fed fractions of brussels sprouts.

The aim of the present study was to determine whether the liver cytosol detoxication enzymes, glutathione S-transferases (GSTases) as well as gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT) foci induced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB) were changed by feeding weanling rats diets containing brussels sprouts, a glucosinolate fraction of brussels sprouts (extract), or a non-glucosinolate fraction (residue). All 3 of these diets induced high levels of hepatic GSTase specific activity as compared to purified-basal diet fed control rats. The brussels sprouts and the extract treatments, but not the residue dietary treatment, inhibited hepatic GGT foci induced by AFB. Thus, glucosinolates and non-glucosinolate fractions of brussels sprouts induce hepatic enzymes involved in detoxication mechanisms but the non-glucosinolate compound(s) apparently are not involved in all chemical carcinogen metabolic processes.