CC]-N-nitrosodiethylamine in mice

Naturally occurring plant products belonging to different chemical classes namely alizari n, an anthraquinone, caffeine, a methyl xanthine derivative and quercetin, a flavonol were studied for their effect on elimination of metabolites of [14C]_N_ nitrosodiethylamine e4C-NDEA) through respiration in mice. Treatment with caffeine, quercetin and alizarin at doses of 200, 9 and 9 JLg/ml respectively, in drinking water enhanced the exhalation of 14C02, one of the major end products of NDEA metabolism. Radioactive CO2 exhaled in 60 min increaser! by 2, 1.61 and 1.4-folds in animals treated with caffeine, quercetin and alizarin for 8 weeks respectively. This increase in exhalation in caffeine-treated animals was achieved even in 2 weeks. These compounds had no adverse effects on the absorption of radioactive NDEA from the gut of the animals as shape and time of 14C02 peak was similar in ip and orally administered [14C-NDEAJ. Increased detoxification/elimination of the carcinogen could be one of the mechanisms for the anticarcinogenic properties of these phytochemicals in lung tumorigenesis induced by orally administered NDEA.