Figure 6.

ECM inhibits oxidative stress via the MAPK and Nrf2 signaling pathways in the CNS. The homogenate of the hippocampus and cortex was used for the assay, and the lysate of the hippocampus was used for Western blot. (a) The content of MDA and the activities of SOD and GSH in the hippocampus (upper panel) and cortex (lower panel) were measured using a kit assay. (b) Western blot analysis of p-p38, p38, p-ERK, ERK, Nrf2, HO-1, NQO-1, and SOD2; β-actin was used as a loading control in the hippocampus. (c) Relative protein levels were quantified by densitometry and normalized to β-actin. Control: vehicle control; ECM-L: D − gal/AlCl₃ + ECM (100 mg/kg/d); ECM-M: D − gal/AlCl₃ + ECM (200 mg/kg/d); ECM − H : D − gal/AlCl₃ + ECM (400 mg/kg/d); vitamin E: D − gal/AlCl₃ + vitamin E (80 mg/kg/d). Data are represented as the mean ± SEM (n = 10 per group). ^# p < 0.05 and ^## p < 0.01 in comparison with the control group; ^∗ p < 0.05, ^∗∗ p < 0.01, and ^∗∗∗ p < 0.001 in comparison with the model group.