Specific-pathogen-free BALB/c mice aged 6-8 weeks were sensitized on days 0, 7 and 14 by intraperitoneal injection of 20 micro-g ovalbumin (OVA) emulsified in 2 mg of aluminum hydroxide gel in a total volume of 200 micro-L. Sensitised mice were exposed to aerosolized 5% OVA in sterile saline for 8 weeks beginning on day 16 for 30 min three times a week. Galangin at a dose of 0.1 or 0.5 mg/kg was administered 30 min before nebulized OVA.

Human MCF-7 cells were grown in RPMI-1640 media supplemented with 2 mM glutamine and 10% fetal bovine serum. Cells were sub-cultured weekly using 0.25% trypsin and 0.05% EDTA. All cultures were incubated at 37 deg-C under a 5% CO2 atmosphere. MCF-& cells in 175 cm^2 flasks were incubated in 12 mL of growth medium containing 0.1 micro-g/mL [3H]DMBA in the presence of DMSO, 1 micro-M galangin, or 10 micro-M galangin. After 24 hours, 1 mL of the medium was removed and extracted with 1 mL of ethyl acetate. [3H]DMBA was separated from metabolites and counted by scintilation.