The inhibitory effect of the isoflavonoids genistein and equol on cytochrome P450 activities has been investigated. Genistein and equol inhibited the high capacity component of p-nitrophenol (CYP2E1 substrate) metabolism in liver microsomes from acetone-induced mice with IC50 values of approximately 10 mM and 560 microM, respectively (cf. diethyldithiocarbamate, IC50, 69 microM). Using human CYP2E1 from a specific expression system (which overcame multienzyme involvement in the rodent system), non-competitive inhibition was also seen with both isoflavonoids. Genistein and equol also inhibited the high capacity component of ethoxyresorufin (CYP1A substrate) metabolism in liver microsomes from beta-naphthoflavone-induced mice with IC50 values of 5.6 mM and 1.7 mM, respectively (cf. alpha-naphthoflavone, IC50 0.8 microM). Using human CYPIA2 from a specific expression system, noncompetitive inhibition was seen with both isoflavonoids. CYP1A1 inhibition offers a possible explanation for the chemopreventative effect of genistein against, for example, dimethylbenz[a]anthracene genotoxicity reported in animals but the IC50 values negate the relevance of this specific chemopreventative action at the levels likely to be achieved from the human diet.