Metabolism of alpha-naphthoflavone by rat liver microsomes.

alpha-Naphthoflavone (ANF) or 7,8-benzoflavone, a synthetic flavonoid, has been widely used in biochemical and biological studies concerning the mechanisms of action of chemical carcinogens. It has been shown previously that ANF inhibits benzo(a)pyrene metabolism by beta-naphthoflavone (BNF)-induced rat liver microsomes but has no inhibitory effects on benzo(a)pyrene metabolism in phenobarbital (PB)-induced rat liver microsomes. This study shows that ANF gives type 1 binding spectra with and is metabolized by both BNF- and PB-induced rat liver microsomes. Specific metabolites identified by ultraviolet and mass spectra and in some cases by cochromatography with authentic standards were: 6-hydroxy-alpha-naphthoflavone, 9-hydroxy-alpha-naphthoflavone, alpha-naphthoflavone-5,6-oxide, and 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-alpha-naphthoflavone. Metabolism at the 5,6 bond of ANF accounted for 73 and 86% of the total organic soluble metabolites produced by PB- and BNF-induced microsomes, respectively. This result is in concert with previous observations on the role of 6 substitution and the loss of inhibitory activity of ANF in BNF-induced rat liver microsomes. Metabolism of ANF is mediated by the cytochrome P-450 mixed-function oxidases, because it is dependent on NADPH and inhibited by carbon monoxide and other cytochrome P-450 inhibitors. BNF-induced microsomes metabolize ANF to 5,6-dihydro-5,6-dihydroxy-alpha-naphthoflavone to a much greater extent than do PB-induced microsomes.