Mulberry crude extracts induce Nrf2 activation and expression of detoxifying enzymes in rat liver: Implication for its protection against NP-induced toxic effects

- Evaluating the detoxification of mulberry crude extract against NP toxic effects.
- The main active substance in mulberry crude extract is polyphenols.
- Mulberry crude extract can induce the liver Nrf2 and phase II detoxifying enzymes.

This study was to evaluate the detoxification ability of mulberry crude extract against NP-induced toxic effects in rats. The structures of the main active substances in mulberry crude extract were first identified by HPLC-Q-TOF-MS. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to NP (270 mg/kg) or/and mulberry crude extract (30, 60, 120 mg/kg·bw) for 28 days. Mulberry crude extract was found to contain 34.86 mg/mL polyphenols and 7.39 mg/mL flavonoids. GST and UGT2b1 in rat liver microsomes were inhibited by 270 mg/kg NP, whereas their levels increased by 120 mg/kg·bw mulberry crude extract treatment. The expression inhibition of Nrf2, GST and Ugt2b1 mRNA by 270 mg/kg NP significantly improved by 120 mg/kg·bw mulberry crude extract treatment. Taken together, mulberry crude extract may be an efficient detoxification agent against NP-induced toxic effects by activation of Nrf2 and Nrf2-related detoxifying enzymes in rat.