Nuclear Factor Erythroid-2-Related Factor 2 (Nrf2) Signalling Pathway and Apoptosis Impact on the Effect of Tetramethylpyrazine against H2O2-Damage in Human Hepatic Cell Line (LO2 Cells)

: As an active component in traditional Chinese herbal medicine, Tetramethylpyrazine (TMP) played a critical role in the treatment of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and eye diseases. In this study, the TMP has obtained from the Chinese herbal medicine Ligusticum chuanxiong and investigated the protective effects of TMP on oxidative damage in human LO 2 cells with the treatment of different concentrations of TMP. The results showed that TMP reserved oxidative damage caused by hydrogen peroxide in LO 2 cells. Further other investigations suggested that TMP protected LO 2 cells from oxidative damage through elevating activities of antioxidant enzymes and glutathione levels. The TMP treatment promoted the nucleus translocation of the nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) and further induced expression of antioxidant response element. Finally, it could be concluded that TMP treatment suppressed apoptosis induced by hydrogen peroxide in LO 2 cells. Thus, the TMP might protect LO 2 cells from oxidative damage through antioxidative and anti-apoptotic effects.