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Abstract
Many cases of colon cancer, the third leading site of cancer in the United States, are diet-related. Fruit and vegetable intake is inversely associated with colon cancer risk, and the flavonoids may have an important role. One mechanism by which flavonoids, including quercetin, may prevent colon cancer is the regulation of Phase 1 and Phase 2 enzymes, which protect the body from foreign substances. Quercetin, the most abundant flavonoid, has been described as a monofunctional enzyme inducer, which is optimal for cancer prevention. This study tested the effect of quercetin on Cytochrome P450 1A1, Glutathione S-transferase, and Quinone reductase activity, and cell viability and proliferation in the SW-480 cell line. Quinone reductase activity decreased significantly with the highest concentration of quercetin. There was no significant effect on the other enzyme activities, cell viability or proliferation. The results of this study cannot confirm that quercetin acts as a monofunctional enzyme inducer.