Taxifolin ameliorates Benzo[a]pyrene-induced lung injury possibly via stimulating the Nrf2 signalling pathway

Int Immunopharmacol. 2021 Jul:96:107566. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2021.107566. Epub 2021 Apr 1.

Abstract

Benzo[a]pyrene, an environmental contaminant as well as a mutagen is widely found in cigarette smoke, automobile exhaust particles among other sources. The present study underlines the protective effect of Taxifolin on B[a]P induced lung injury in male Swiss Albino Mice by analyzing the activity/level of various pro and anti-oxidant parameters, Inflammatory markers, Phase II enzyme, as well as lung histology. Taxifolin was administered orally to mice at either dose of 20 or 40 mg/kg body weight for 14 days and then challenged with a single dose of B[a]P (125 mg/kg body weight by oral gavage) on the 14th day. Our results show treatment with B[a]P leads to increased activity/level of CYP450R, EH, pro-inflammatory proteins, as well as lipid peroxidation and reduce level/activity of anti-oxidant molecules while Taxifolin treatment shows ameliorative effect. Administration of B[a]P also leads to decrease in expression of ROS sensitive factor Nrf2 and its downstream target NQO1,HO-1,SOD while Taxifolin treated animals showed a very high level of expression of Nrf2,NQO1,HO-1,SOD. Since Nrf2 plays central role in providing resistance to oxidative stress and also suppresses inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB,we concluded Taxifolin suppresses oxidative stress and inflammation in B[a]P induced lung injury possibly via stimulating the Nrf2 signaling pathway.

Keywords: Benzo[a]pyrene; Flavonoid; Inflammation; Nrf2; Oxidative stress; Taxifolin.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use*
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use*
  • Benzopyrenes / adverse effects
  • Cigarette Smoking / adverse effects
  • Inflammation / chemically induced
  • Inflammation / drug therapy*
  • Lipid Peroxidation
  • Lung / pathology*
  • Lung Injury / chemically induced
  • Lung Injury / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2 / metabolism*
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Quercetin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Quercetin / therapeutic use
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Signal Transduction

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Antioxidants
  • Benzopyrenes
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • NF-kappa B
  • Nfe2l2 protein, mouse
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Quercetin
  • taxifolin