Influence of cigarette smoke on the L-ascorbic acid metabolism and the activities of drug-metabolizing enzyme in rats.

This study clarified the influence of cigarette smoke on the L-ascorbic acid (AsA) metabolism and the activities of drug-metabolizing enzyme in rats. The test rats (group T) were exposed to weak sidestream smoke from cigarettes for 2 h, everyday for 57 days. AsA concentration in the tissues and excreted amount of AsA in urine of group T tended to be higher than those of control group (group C). The plasma AsA concentration and the activities of aniline hydroxylase and 7-ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase of group T were significantly higher than those of group C. There was no significant difference in the activity of UDP glucuronosyltransferase or in the liver cytochrome P-450 content between these two groups.