The activities of mouse liver glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) induced by myristicin, the active compound in parsley leaf oil, against the carcinogens 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide (4NQO) and benzo(a)pyrene-4,5-oxide (BP-4,5-oxide) were studied. A/J mice were treated with three 20 mg doses (one dose every other day) by gavage. Affinity purified liver GST samples from treated animals showed a 7.2-fold increase in activity toward 4NQO when compared with equal amounts of liver samples prepared from the control group. Activity against BP-4,5-oxide was increased 1.8-fold in the experimental group. Experimental samples also showed a significant increase in activity toward the substrates 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB), 2,4-dichloronitrobenzene (DCNB), ethacrynic acid (E-Acid), and cumene hydroperoxide. These results suggested an increase in the three major classes of GSTs α, μ, and π and was further substantiated through Western blot analysis. Based on our results, myristicin could be considered an important chemopreventive agent against cancer
