Effect of scoparone on the hepatic sulfatransferase activity in mice

Effect of scoparone (6, 7-dimethoxycoumarin) on the hepatic cytosolic sulfotransferase activity was investigated. After treatment with scoparone, hepatic cytosolic sulfotransferase activity was increased with odse and time-dependent manner as compared to control. The $V_{max}$ value (control = 1.33 n moles/mg protein/min, scoparone = 2.39n moles/mg protein/min) without affecting the $K_m$ value for p-nitrophenol was increased by the scoparone treatment. Whereas, the hepatic cytosolic sulfotransferase was not changed by the addition of scoparone in vitro, and was strongly inhibited by the addition of metabolites of scoparone. The results obtained suggest that the characteristics of increase in the enzyme activity may include induction of enzyme proteins, and may be due to the metaboltes of scoparone.