In vivo evaluation of effect of anthocyanin-rich wheat on rat liver microsomal drug-metabolizing cytochromes P450 and on biochemical and antioxidant parameters in rats

Wheat is one of the most important agricultural crops worldwide. Recently, anthocyanin-rich wheat genotypes were introduced to the market as a food with added value. In the experiment described here, two different genotypes with blue grain were studied (UC66049 and Skorpion). The aim of the investigation was to determine whether a 72-day-long intake of anthocyanin-rich wheat can influence the drug-metabolizing microsomal cytochromes P450 (using standard drug substrates of rat/human liver microsomal cytochromes P450) and antioxidant status, which indicated the ability of the rats' liver to metabolize drugs or xenobiotics. Consumption of an anthocyanin-rich diet moderately increased the activity and mRNA expression of the studied CYPs by 20-55% relative to the control (with the exception of CYP2B1/2). The health status of rats was good; the weight gain was lower in the group with anthocyanin-rich UC66049 grain compared to the other two groups (control and Skorpion-fed one). The antioxidant power of plasma was mildly but significantly higher in the test groups, other antioxidant parameters remained unaffected, except for an increased level of total -SH groups. Based on our observations, there will most likely be no significant influence of the consumption of anthocyanin-rich wheat on the metabolism of xenobiotics and drugs.