Alpha-naphthoflavone: an inhibitor of hydrocarbon cytotoxicity and microsomal hydroxylase

Alpha-naphthoflavone inhibits the metabolism of 3,4-benzopyrene and 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene in hamster enlbryo cell cultures and protects the cells against the inhibition of cell multiplication by these carcinogens. Alphla-nalphthoflavone also inhibits the aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase activity in homogenates of induced hamster embryo cells and in liver microsomes from rats previously treated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, but not in microsomes from control rats.