Inhibition of human liver and duodenum sulfotransferases by drugs and dietary chemicals: a review of the literature

Sulfotransferase catalyzes the transfer of sulfate, donated by 3'-phosphoadenosine-5'-phosphosulfate, to an acceptor substrate that may be a hydroxy group or an amine group. Man is exposed daily to drugs and dietary chemicals that can inhibit sulfotransferase activity The aim of this study was to review the literature concerning the inhibition of sulfotransferases by drugs and dietary chemicals in the human liver and duodenum. The IC50 value of mefenamic acid for human liver phenol sulfotransferase (SULT1A1) was 0.02 muM and for human liver catechol sulfotransferase (SULT1A3) 76 muM with a SULT1A3/SULT1A1 ratio for the IC50 of 3,800. Mefenamic acid is therefore a potent and selective inhibitor of human liver SULT1A1. The IC50 values of mefenamic acid for the sulfation rates of (-)-salbutamol and (-)-apomorphine were 4 orders of magnitude greater in the human duodenum than in the liver. Salicylic acid inhibited the sulfation of (-)-apomorphine in human liver with an IC50 of 54 muM but did not inhibit the sulfation of (-)-apomorphine in human duodenum. Quercetin, a flavonoid present in edible fruit, vegetable and wine, was a potent inhibitor of human liver SULT1A1 and estrogen sulfotransferase (EST) activities and the sulfation of resveratrol. Quercetin inhibited the sulfation of dopamine, (-)-salbutamol, minoxidil and paracetamol and the IC50 values were I - 2 orders of magnitude greater in human duodenum than in the liver. In conclusion, mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin inhibit SULT1A1 whereas SULT1A3 is relatively resistant to the inhibition by these compounds. Under particular circumstances, human duodenum sulfotransferase is more resistant than liver sulfotransferase to the inhibition by mefenamic acid, salicylic acid and quercetin.