Soyasaponin Ab protects against oxidative stress in HepG2 cells via Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathways

• Main Authors: Xiuying Liu, Keke Chen, Lijie Zhu, He Liu, Tao Ma, Qingying Xu, Tianyu Xie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2018-06-01
• Series: Journal of Functional Foods
• Subjects: Nrf2; Soyasaponin; Antioxidant activity; Oxidative stress
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1756464618301233

Soyasaponin Ab (SA) is a typical oleanane triterpene saponin isolated from soybean and represents effects of antioxidation and anti-inflammation. In this study, we found the expressions of some phase II detoxifying enzymes were stimulated by SA via the signaling pathway of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in HepG2 cells. Luciferase assay results demonstrated that SA promoted the Nrf2 transcription via binding to the antioxidant response element. In addition, a combining of luciferase assay and Western blotting suggested that SA activated ERK1/2 signaling pathways, and made Nrf2 translocated from cytoplasm to nucleus. SA also upregulated some Nrf2-related antioxidant enzymes such as heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), and glutamate cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). Inhibition of si-Nrf2 resisted expressions of SA-induced antioxidant genes. Collectively, these results suggest that SA exerted its protection against oxidative stress via the Nrf2/HO-1/NQO1 signaling pathways.