Abstract: Purpose: This study aimed to explore the intervention effect of Lycium barbarum juice (LBJ) on the metabolism of di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) by analyzing the activity of uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1 (UGT1) and metabolic detoxification profile in the liver of rats exposed to DEHP. Methods: Sixty Sprague Dawley male rats were randomly divided into three groups (n = 20 each): control group, DEHP group and LBJ group. The DEHP and LBJ groups were administered with normal saline and LBJ respectively by gavage once daily for 7 consecutive days after receiving a single dose of 3 000 mg/kg mb DEHP dissolved in sesame oil. The control group was treated with normal saline for 7 days after receiving the same volume of sesame oil of. Urine samples were collected for 24 hours daily during the experimental period. Totally 5 rats were sacrificed randomly in each group after 1, 3, 5 and 7 days of exposure. The activity of UGT1 was determined by an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay kit while the contents of mono-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) in serum and urine and phthalic acid (PA) in urine were detected by high performance liquid chromatography. Results: The activity of UGT1 in the LBJ group significantly increased on the 5th day compared to the DEHP and control groups (P < 0.05). The content of serum MEHP in the LBJ group decreased significantly, whereas the contents of urine MEHP and PA increased compared to DEHP group. Conclusion: LBJ can promote the metabolism and excretion of DEHP through improving the activity of UGT1, making it a healthcare product or functional food against the potential hazard of phthalate esters (PAEs) or other poisonous chemicals.

Key words: di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), uridine diphosphate glucuronosyltransferase 1(UGT1), Lycium barbarum juice (LBJ), intervention