Comparison of genistein metabolism in rats and humans using liver microsomes and hepatocytes

Species differences and metabolism are the most crucial factors in considering the effects of genistein. The aim of this study was to have a better knowledge of the metabolic fate of genistein in humans as compared with rats. For this purpose, radiolabeled genistein was incubated with human and rat liver microsomes and with cryopreserved hepatocytes from both species. Incubations were performed using a wide range of genistein concentrations to analyze the kinetics of formation of the metabolites. Metabolite profiling was obtained using an HPLC system connected to a radioactivity detector. Identification of the metabolites was based on their retention times as compared with those of authentic standards and on LC–MS (ESI-MS/MS) or NMR analyses. In both species, liver microsomes produced the same three hydroxylated metabolites (8-OH, 6-OH and 3′-OH-genistein) whereas cryopreserved hepatocytes produced the same glucurono- and sulfo-conjugates (genistein 4′-O-sulfate 7-O-glucuronide, genistein 7-O-glucuronide, genistein 4′-O-glucuronide, genistein 7-O-sulfate and genistein 4′-O-sulfate). The rate of metabolism varied with species. 3′-Hydroxygenistein was the predominant metabolite produced by rat liver microsomes, whereas in humans 3′-hydroxy and 8-hydroxygenistein were produced in the same range. In both human and rat hepatocyte incubations, genistein 7-O-glucuronide represented more than 50% of the incubated dose. Our results on hepatocytes confirmed the predominance of conjugation reaction compared to oxidative reaction observed in vivo.