Mulberry crude extracts induce Nrf2 activation and expression of detoxifying enzymes in rat liver: Implication for its protection against NP-induced toxic effects

• Published in: Journal of functional foods 2017-05, Vol.32, p.367-374
• Main Authors: Liu, Huan, Yang, Jie, Huang, Shaowen, Liu, Ruijing, He, Yongjian, Zheng, Dongdong, Liu, Chunhong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: GST; Mulberry; Nonylphenol; Nrf2; UGT2b1
• ISSN: 1756-4646; 2214-9414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.03.024

•Evaluating the detoxification of mulberry crude extract against NP toxic effects.•The main active substance in mulberry crude extract is polyphenols.•Mulberry crude extract can induce the liver Nrf2 and phase II detoxifying enzymes. This study was to evaluate the detoxification ability of mulberry crude extract against NP-induced toxic effects in rats. The structures of the main active substances in mulberry crude extract were first identified by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Male Sprague–Dawley rats were exposed to NP (270mg/kg) or/and mulberry crude extract (30, 60, 120mg/kg·bw) for 28days. Mulberry crude extract was found to contain 34.86mg/mL polyphenols and 7.39mg/mL flavonoids. GST and UGT2b1 in rat liver microsomes were inhibited by 270mg/kg NP, whereas their levels increased by 120mg/kg·bw mulberry crude extract treatment. The expression inhibition of Nrf2, GST and Ugt2b1 mRNA by 270mg/kg NP significantly improved by 120mg/kg·bw mulberry crude extract treatment. Taken together, mulberry crude extract may be an efficient detoxification agent against NP-induced toxic effects by activation of Nrf2 and Nrf2-related detoxifying enzymes in rat.