INFLUÊNCIA DE EXTRATOS DE AÇAÍ (Euterpe oleracea MART.) E PITANGA (Eugenia uniflora L.) NA ATIVIDADE DE ENZIMAS DE BIOTRANSFORMAÇÃO HEPÁTICAS DE RATOS

The Citocromo P450 enzymes (CYP) and Glutathione S-transferase (GST) participate in the process of cellular metabolism of xenobiotic compounds making them less toxic and facilitating their elimination (biotransformation). During this process, the action of CYP can activate potentially toxic compounds impairing the cellular function. Better detoxification results can be achieved by decreasing the action of CYP and increasing the action of GST, responsible for the elimination of most of these composts. Studies have been carried out to evaluate the effects of bioactive components of plants on the activity of biotransforming enzymes. There are several fruits rich in compounds that, isolated, are reported as modulators of enzymatic activity including biotransforming enzymes. The aim of this work was to evaluate the capacity of açaí and brazilian cherry composts in inhibiting the activity of CYP and increasing the activity of hepatic GST of rats, searching to optimize the biotranformation process. The activity of enzymes of the CYP family (PROD, EROD, MROD and ECOD) was determined fluorimetrically using specific substrates and the GST activity was performed by spectrophotometric assay using the CDNB substrate. Ethereal extracts of açaí and brazilian cherry were used in the tests. Among the extracts tested, only the ethereal extract of açaí promoted partially satisfactory modulation, since the extract of brazilian cherry did not show influence on the enzymes. The extract of açaí inhibited the activity of CYP expressively, possibly decreasing the activation of toxic compounds, however also inhibited GST by decreasing the cellular capacity of elimination of toxic compounds.