Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) induced HO-1 and NQO1 expression against oxidative stress through the Nrf2-dependent antioxidant pathway.

Dihydroquercetin (DHQ) is a well-known antioxidant agent. In the present investigation, we reported for the first time that DHQ stimulates the expression of phase II detoxifying enzymes through the Nrf2-dependent signaling pathway. The IC50 values of DHQ for reduction of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazol (DPPH), reducing power assay, lipid peroxidation assay, and xanthine oxidase inhibition were 5.96, 4.31, 2.03, and 13.24 μM, respectively. DHQ possessed considerable protective activity from oxidative DNA damage. A luciferase reporter assay also demonstrated that DHQ-activated signaling resulted in the increased transcriptional activity of Nrf2 through binding to the ARE (antioxidant response element) enhancer sequence. Furthermore, Western blotting and luciferase assay revealed DHQ activated ERK1/2, Akt, and JNK signaling pathways, subsequently leading to Nrf2 nuclear translocation. DHQ upregulated the Nrf2-related antioxidant genes heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1), and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunits. Inhibition of Nrf2 by siRNA reduced DHQ-induced upregulation of these antioxidant genes.