Abstract
The protective effects of water extracts of djulis (Chenopodium formosanum) (WECF) and their bioactive compounds on particulate matter (PM)-induced oxidative injury in A549 cells via the nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) signaling were investigated. WECF at 50–300 µg/mL protected A549 cells from PM-induced cytotoxicity. The cytoprotection of WECF was associated with decreases in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) formation, and increases in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and glutathione (GSH) contents. WECF increased Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression in A549 cells exposed to PM. SP600125 (a JNK inhibitor) and U0126 (an ERK inhibitor) attenuated the WECF-induced Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. According to the HPLC-MS/MS analysis, rutin (2219.7 µg/g) and quercetin derivatives (2648.2 µg/g) were the most abundant bioactive compounds present in WECF. Rutin and quercetin ameliorated PM-induced oxidative stress in the cells. Collectively, the bioactive compounds present in WECF can protect A549 cells from PM-induced oxidative injury by upregulating Nrf2 and HO-1 via activation of the ERK and JUN signaling pathways.
Highlights
Air pollution is the largest single environmental risk for human health
The results demonstrated that 100, 200, 300, and 400 μg/mL particulate matter (PM) decreased A549 cell viability to
Treatment ranging from 10 to 300 μg/mL compared to the control, indicating that water extracts of djulis (WECF) in this range did not show any cytotoxic effects toward the viability of A549 cells
Summary
Air pollution is the largest single environmental risk for human health. Health Organization (WHO) reported that an estimated seven million people worldwide are killed by air pollution every year. Nine out of ten people breathe air that contains high levels of pollutants that exceed the WHO guideline limits [1]. The main sources of PM10 and PM2.5 substances in the air are road traffic emissions, biomass burning-related sources, uncovered soil and mining operations, industrial waste, and so on [4]. The typical chemical constituents of PM include sulfates, nitrates, other inorganic ions such as ions of sodium, potassium, calcium, and chloride, organic and elemental carbon, metals, metalloids, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), as well as allergens and microbial compounds [5]
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