Basil extract inhibits the sulfotransferase mediated formation of DNA adducts of the procarcinogen 1′-hydroxyestragole by rat and human liver S9 homogenates and in HepG2 human hepatoma cells

Levels of Genotoxic and Carcinogenic Ingredients in Plant Food Supplements and Associated Risk Assessment

“…Ideally the studies in rodents should be performed with the botanical or the standardized traditional extract(s) of that botanical. This because studies are already available suggesting that results obtained with the botanical or its extract, containing the genotoxic compound in its food matrix, may be different from those obtained when using the purified genotoxic carcinogenic compounds [66,78,79]. Such differences may occur for example when additional compounds present in the botanical or its extract may modulate the bioactivation and/or detoxification pathways of the genotoxic carcinogen of interest.…”

“…Such differences may occur for example when additional compounds present in the botanical or its extract may modulate the bioactivation and/or detoxification pathways of the genotoxic carcinogen of interest. For example, Jeurissen et al [79] demonstrated that a methanolic basil extract was able to adequately inhibit the sulfotransferase catalyzed bioactivation and DNA adduct formation in HepG2 human hepatoma cells exposed to the proximate carcinogen of estragole. The basil compound responsible for the inhibition was subsequently identified as nevadensin [80].…”

Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA)

“…The genotoxic potential of alkoxy-substituted allylbenzenes is likely due to the CYP-catalysed formation of the 1 -hydroxy metabolite and subsequent SULT-catalysed formation of the 1 -sulfoxy conjugate. The presence of CYP1A2 inhibitors in the herb basil, which contains methyl eugenol and estragole, has been demonstrated (Jeurissen et al, 2008). Furthermore, basil extract is able to strongly inhibit sulfation and subsequent DNA adduct formation of 1 -hydroxyestragole in incubations with rat and human S9 homogenates and in the human hepatoma HepG2 cell line.…”

Bioactivation of herbal constituents: simple alerts in the complex system

“…For instance, basil (Ocimum basilicum L., Lamiaceae) extract contains estragole which exerts its carcinogenicity through bioactivation pathway catalyzed by CYP enzymes and SULT. However, the study by Jeurissen et al showed that some ingredients in basil extract inhibit the activity of CYP1A2 and SULT, which might weaken the bioactivation potential of estragole [102][103][104]. Therefore, when estragole was utilized along with other ingredients in basil extract, the potential toxicity would be lower.…”