Flavonoids of honey and propolis : characterization and effects on hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes and benzo(a)pyrene-DNA binding in rats

The influence of dietary sunflower honey, propolis, and a flavonoid extract of propolis was examined on drug-metabolizing enzyme activities in rat liver and on microsome-mediated binding of benzo[a]pyrene to DNA. Characterization of flavonoids present in sunflower honey and propolis was achieved in order to assess the relative effects of different components of honey and propolis. Honey and propolis contained the same major flavonoids, pinocembrin, chrysin, galangin, and pinobanksin. The concentration of flavonoids was higher in propolis. Sunflower honey produced no significant changes on phase I and phase II enzyme activities and no modification of in vitro binding of benzo[a]pyrene to DNA…