Figure 7.

Activation of ARE/Nrf2 by the phytonutrients and estradiol in the presence of H₂O₂. Cells were seeded in 24-well plates (10⁵ cells/well), and 24 h later were transfected with the ARE/Nrf2 reporter gene, and ARE/Nrf2 transcriptional activity was determined as described in Section 2.6. After transfection, cells were incubated for 16 h with (a) rosemary extract (5 µM carnosic acid), (b) tomato extract (10 µM lycopene), or (c) estradiol (10 nM), and with (dark columns) or without (light columns) H₂O₂. Values (fold induction) are the means ± SEM of 3–4 experiments, each performed in triplicate. # p < 0.05, ## p < 0.01, ### p < 0.001, #### p < 0.0001, significant difference between treatment and the vehicle without H₂O₂. ** p < 0.01, *** p < 0.001, significant difference between treatments with and without H₂O₂.