A Computational Inter-Species Study on Safrole Phase I Metabolism-Dependent Bioactivation: A Mechanistic Insight into the Study of Possible Differences among Species

• Published in: Toxins Vol. 15; no. 2; p. 94
• Main Authors: Pedroni, Lorenzo, Louisse, Jochem, Punt, Ans, Dorne, Jean Lou C M, Dall'Asta, Chiara, Dellafiora, Luca
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 18.01.2023; MDPI
• Subjects: alkenylbenzenes; Allylbenzene Derivatives; Animals; Biocompatibility; Biological activity; Carcinogens; Carcinogens - metabolism; Chemical properties; Chickens - metabolism; Computer applications; CYP1A2; CYP2A6; Cytochrome; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System - metabolism; Cytochrome P450; Cytochromes P450; Dogs; Essential oils; estragole; Feed additives; Feeds; Food; Food products; Genotoxicity; Health aspects; Herbs; Humans; Ligands; Liver; Metabolites; Mice; Molecular docking; Molecular dynamics; Molecular modelling; Oils & fats; Organic compounds; Physiological aspects; Rabbits; Rats; Safrole; Safrole - metabolism; Sheep; Spices; Swine; Toxicity; Toxicology; Workflow; Italy; CYP2A6; molecular modeling; CYP1A2; cytochrome P450; safrole; alkenylbenzenes; estragole
• ISSN: 2072-6651; 2072-6651
• DOI: 10.3390/toxins15020094

Safrole, a 162.2 Da natural compound belonging to the alkenylbenzenes class, is classified as a possible carcinogen to humans by IARC (group IIB) and has proven to be genotoxic and carcinogenic to rodents. Despite its use as a food or feed additive, it is forbidden in many countries due to its documented toxicity; yet, it is still broadly present within food and feed and is particularly abundant in spices, herbs and essential oils. Specifically, safrole may exert its toxicity upon bioactivation to its proximate carcinogen 1'-hydroxy-safrole via specific members of the cytochrome P450 protein family with a certain inter/intra-species variability. To investigate this variability, an in-silico workflow based on molecular modelling, docking and molecular dynamics has been successfully applied. This work highlighted the mechanistic basis underpinning differences among humans, cats, chickens, goats, sheep, dogs, mice, pigs, rats and rabbits. The chosen metric to estimate the likeliness of formation of 1'-hydroxy-safrole by the species-specific cytochrome P450 under investigation allowed for the provision of a knowledge-based ground to rationally design and prioritise further experiments and deepen the current understanding of alkenylbenzenes bioactivation and CYPs mechanics. Both are crucial for a more informed framework of analysis for safrole toxicity.