Natural compounds are known to modify NO content in tissues; however, the biological activity of polyphenol-rich food often does not correspond to the effects of individual polyphenols on NO synthase activity. The aim of this study was to see how natural compounds luteolin, indole-3-carbinol, and lycopene modify NO production in rat tissues and change the expression of the iNOS gene and protein. Indole-3-carbinol produced multiple effects on the NO level; it signifi cantly decreased NO concentration in blood, lungs, and skeletal muscles and increased it in the liver. Indole-3-carbinol enhanced lipopolyssaccharide (LPS)-induced NO production in all rat organs. It decreased iNOS gene expression in the brain cortex of animals that did not receive LPS and up-regulated it in the LPS-treated animals. Lycopene increased the iNOS gene transcription rate in the brain cortex of LPS-treated animals. Luteolin did not modify NO production in any organ of LPS-untreated rats, nor did it affect gene expression in the liver. In the brain it slightly decreased iNOS gene expression. Luteolin decreased NO production in the blood of LPS-treated animals and the number of iNOS-positive cells in these animals. Our results suggest that changes in tissue NO levels caused by natural compounds cannot be predicted from their effect on NOS expression or activity obtained in model systems. This stresses the importance of direct measurements of NO and NOS expression in animal tissues. Toksikol 2010;61:275-285 Natural biologically active compounds of plant origin such as flavonoids are widely used as dietary supplements with detoxicating effects. The detoxicating effect of many plant-derived compounds is based on their antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, and anti-carcinogenic effects (1, 2). These substances are also known to infl uence the enzymatic production of nitric oxide (NO) and its stability. (3). This underlines the signifi cance of the uptake of fl avonoid and other natural compound for the defence of cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems against toxins. However, the biological activity of polyphenol-rich food does not correspond to the effects of individual compounds on NO synthase activity. For example, red wine is known as a vasodilator (4) and is rich in quercetin. Purifi ed quercetin inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression (3, 5), destabilises endothelial NOS (eNOS) mRNA (6),
KEY WORDS: ESR spectroscopy, inducible nitric oxide synthase, natural compounds, NO
Rostoka E, et al. EFFECTS OF NATURAL COMPOUNDS ON NO AND iNOSArh Hig Rada