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. 2021 Jan 22;22(3):1104. doi: 10.3390/ijms22031104

Table 2.

The AhR signaling pathway mediates antioxidative signals in response to different substances, e.g., herbal medicines and flavonoids.

Substance Outcome Cell Type References
Ketoconazole

  • Activation of antioxidative Nrf2 and NQO1 pathways; Anti-inflammatory effect mediated by TNF-α inhibition; Inhibition of BaP-mediated ROS and IL-8 production (cytoprotective effect);

  • AhR activation without ROS production.

 NHEK [55]
Bidens pilosa

  • Inhibition of TNF-α and BaP-mediated ROS production; Activation of antioxidative Nrf2 and NQO1 pathways.

 Human dermal endothelial cells [86]
Epigallocatechin gallate

  • Activation of antioxidative Nrf2 and NQO1 pathways; Downregulation of AhR and CYP1A1 expression.

 Primary vascular endothelial cells [87]
Quercitrin

  • Inhibition of UVB-mediated ROS production; Reduction of UVB-mediated oxidative DNA damage.

 JB6 cells [88]
Quercetin, kaempferol

  • Reduction of BaP-mediated increased expression of Nrf2;

  • Counteraction of BaP-mediated suppression of AhRR.

 Caco2 [89]
Cinnamaldehyde

  • Inhibition of AhR activation;

  • Activation of antioxidative Nrf2 and NQO1 pathways.

 HaCaT [11]
Cynaropicrin (Cynara scolymus)

  • Activation of antioxidative Nrf2 and NQO1 pathways; Inhibition of ROS production in cells after exposure on UVB radiation;

  • Inhibition of proinflammatory cytokine (IL-6 and TNF-α) production in cells after exposure on UVB radiation.

 NHEK [10]
Opuntia ficus indica

  • Activation of antioxidative Nrf2 and NQO1 pathways; Induction of FLG and LOR expression.

 HNEK [9]
Hesperetin

  • Inhibition of AhR transactivation; Inhibition of AhR downstream gene expression (CYP1A1, CYP1A2, and CYP1B1).

 MCF-7 [90]
Quercetin, resveratrol, curcumin

  • Induction of CYP1A1 in an indirect manner by inhibiting the metabolic turnover of FICZ.

 HaCaT [91]

AhR—aryl hydrocarbon receptor; Nrf2—nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor-2; NQO1—NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1; TNF-α—tumor necrosis factor alpha; BaP—benzo[a]pyrene; ROS—reactive oxygen species; AhRR—aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor; FLG—filaggrin; FICZ—6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole.