Stimulatory effect of vegetables on intestinal drug metabolism in the rat.

The intestinal metabolism of hexobarbital, phenacetin, 7-ethoxycoumarin and benzo [a] pyrene in vitro was increased in rats fed either dried Brussels sprouts or dried cabbage in a nutritionally complete semisynthetic diet as compared to rats fed only the semisynthetic diet. Pretreatment of rats with several indoles present in Brussels sprouts and cabbage also stimulated intestinal drug metabolism, but the effect was smaller than when dried Brussels sprouts or dried cabbage was fed. The results obtained suggest a need for studies in man to determine whether vegetables and other dietary constituents can stimulate the intestinal metabolism of drugs and thereby alter their biological effects.