Correlation between ratio of Nrf2/Keap1 and catalase gene expression in liver of hyperlipidemic rats after administration of 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy- 3-methoxyphenyl)-chromen-4-one

Abstract

Hyperlipidemia results in excessive superoxide anion radicals that are the cause of
oxidative stress. Phytochemical compounds can reduce oxidative stress. The aim of this
study was to investigate the correlations between ratio of Nrf2/Keap1 and catalase gene
expression in livers of hyperlipidemic rats after administration of 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-
3-methoxyphenyl)-chromen-4-one. Twenty-four Rattus norvegicus rats, aged 8 weeks and
weighing an average of 200 g were randomly divided into 6 groups i.e. Group 1 was
normal group (N), Group 2 was hyperlipidemic rats (HL), Group 3 was hyperlipidemic
rats with simvastatin (HL+SV), and Groups 4-6 were hyperlipidemic rats with 7-hydroxy-
2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-chromen-4-one doses 10 mg (HL+10), 30 mg (HL+30) or 90 mg/200 g BW (HL+90), respectively, administered orally by gavages. At the end of
the study, the rats were euthanized and the livers were used to analyze the ratio of Nrf2/
Keap 1 and catalase gene expression. Nrf2/Keap1 ratio and catalase gene expression
between groups were analyzed by Kruskal Wallis test. Spearman’s correlation test was
used to analyze the correlations between Nrf2/Keap1 ratio and catalase gene expression.
The administration of 3 different doses of 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-
chromen-4-one on hyperlipidemic rats increased catalase gene expression. There was
no correlation between ratio Nrf2/Keap1 and catalase gene expression. In conclusion,
administration of 7-hydroxy-2-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-chromen-4-one can improve
catalase gene expression in hyperlipidemic rats. However, there is no correlation between
the ratio of Nrf2/Keap1 gene expression and the catalase gene expression.