摘要：We previously classified chloroflavone congeners into 3-methylcholanthrene (MC)-type, phenobarbital (PB)-type and mixed (MC plus PB)-type inducers of hepatic microsomal monooxygenases in rats. In the present study, we examined the structure-activity relationship involved in the capability of congeners to induce the described regioselective O-demethylation activity of scoparone. The steric and electronic parameters of congeners were calculated by the MM2 molecular mechanics and Extended Huckel MO methods, respectively. The molecular rectangle-area/depth ratios related well to the ratios of scoparone 6-/7-O-demethylation activities induced by the congeners. The molecular dimensions characterized the MC-type congeners as nearly planar molecules and the PB-type congeners as bulky and nonplanar. Moreover, the ratio of scoparone 6-/7-O-demethylation activities had significant correlation with both the LUMO energy (ELUMO) and the difference (ΔE) between ELUMO and HOMO energy for the congeners. The ELUMO and ΔE were less in the MC-type congeners than in the PB-type. These correlations suggest that the steric and electronic features of chloroflavone congeners are responsible for the induction of cytochrome P450 isozymes and associated monooxygenase activities.
关键词：chloroflavone congener;monooxygenase induction;structure-activity relationship;scoparone O-demethylation;molecular mechanics;molecular orbital calculation
