Figure 5.

Role of AKT in safflower yellow B (SYB)-induced nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) upregulation. (A) Effects of SYB (50, 100 and 150 nmol/l) on AKT protein expression in HepG2 cells exposed to H₂O₂ (200 µmol/l). (B) Role of AKT in SYB-induced Nrf2 expression. Cells were pre-treated with SYB (150 nmol/l) or LY294002 (10 µM) for 24 h, then exposed to H₂O₂ (200 µmol/l). Total cell lysates were prepared and subjected to western blot analysis. β-actin was used as a loading control. (C) GSH-Px and (D) superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels were measured using respective kits. Data represent the means ± SD. ^##P<0.01, statistically significant difference between model vs. control group; ^**P<0.01, statistically significant difference between SYB vs. model group; ^&&P<0.01, statistically significant difference between LY294002 vs. SYB group.