Fig. 7

H. cordata and 2-undecanone activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway. The protein levels were measured by using Western blot analysis. Tertiary butylhydroquinone (tBHQ), a well-known Nrf2 activator, was used as a positive control. a The total protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1 were measured in cells exposed to vehicle, tBHQ (10 μM), H. cordata (25 mg/mL) or 2-undecanone (50 μM). b The nuclear Nrf2 protein levels were measured in cells subjected to the same treatments. c Representative confocal images (scale bar: 50 μm) of double-stained cells subjected to the described treatments and stained for Nrf2 (red) and with DAPI (blue). d The total protein levels of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1 were measured in cells exposed to vehicle, B[a]P (5 μM) alone, B[a]P (5 μM) plus H.cordata (25 mg/mL) or B[a]P (5 μM) plus 2-undecanone (50 μM). (E) The nuclear Nrf2 protein levels were measured in cells subjected to the same treatments. (F-K) The expression of Nrf2, HO-1 and NQO-1 in the lung tissues of mice after treatment was detected by immunohistochemistry. The data represent the mean ± SD (n = 3). ^**p < 0.01 and ^***p < 0.001 compared with the model cells (given B[a]P) or control mice (given B[a]P); ^###p < 0.001 compared with the control cells (given water) or control mice (given B[a]P + oil)