• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.261-267
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• 2005

Phase II enzymes are transcriptionally induced by synthetic chemical agents and natural products, and such induction plays critical roles in protection against chemical carcinogens and other toxic xenobiotics. To discover natural products for use as cancer chemopreventive agents, the ability of Citrus aurantium Linn (Jikak) to induce activities of quinone reductase (QR) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in wild-type murine hepatoma cell line (Hepa 1c1c7) and Ah-receptor-defective mutant of the same cell line (Bprcl) was investigated. Hexane and chloroform fractions of C. aurantium Linn (Jikak) at doses not exhibiting cytotoxicity were effective inducers of QR (${\sim}1.8-fold$) and GST (${\sim}1.5-fold$) in Hepa 1c1c7 cells, whereas showed low QR induction potency in Bprcl cells, which indicates they have weak monofunctional action. Results suggest C. aurantium Linn (Jikak) as potentially useful cancer chemopteventive agent.