6, 2′, 4′-trimethoxyflavone is a selective aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) antagonist with no partial agonist activity. The role of the transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in biology is still under evaluation and has expanded beyond that of a xenobiotic sensor and regulator of detoxification. Inhibition of AHR activity by antagonists could result in anti-inflammatory actions. 6, 2′, 4′-trimethoxyflavone (TMF) is a pure AHR antagonist. The compound compete with agonists, such as 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P), thus effectively inhibiting AHRmediated transactivation of a heterologous reporter and endogenous targets e.g. CYP1A1. TMF also exhibits no species or promoter dependency with regard to AHR antagonism. Thus it represents an improved tool allowing for more precise dissection of AHR function.
