PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF ISOLIQUIRITIN ON BEAS-2B CELLS AGAINST LPS-INDUCED OXIDATIVE STRESS AND INFLAMMATION INVOLVING ACTIVATION OF NRF2.

Inflammatory respiratory diseases such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) threaten people's health worldwide. To discover novel drugs targeting these diseases, we have evaluated the protective effects of isoliquiritin using LPS-treated BEAS-2B cells. As a result, isoliquiritin at 5 μM can attenuate oxidative stress by reducing the ROS level and MDA content as well as elevating the activity of SOD and CAT. Meanwhile, the inflammation induced by LPS in BEAS-2B cells was ameliorated through decreasing the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 as well as inactivating the NF-κB pathway. In addition, activation of Nrf2 was found in LPS-induced BEAS-2B cells, which indicated the protective effects of isoliquiritin were associated with activation of Nrf2. These findings can give evidence for the application of isoliquiritin and the discovery of novel therapy for inflammatory pulmonary disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]