Calorie restriction potentiates epigallocatechin-3-gallate-mediated Nrf2 activation in hepatocytes of aged rats

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine
• Main Authors: Rajeswari Ravindran, Malathi Manuel, Thangarajeswari Mohan, Ravindran Jaganathan, Kalaiselvi Periandavan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2023
• Subjects: aging; reactive oxygen species; calorie restriction; egcg; nrf2; antioxidant; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Biology (General); QH301-705.5; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4103/2221-1691.387748; https://doaj.org/article/5eff5a6477014834b1a8ca9ebfc4458a

Objective: To explore the combinatorial effect of epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and calorie restriction on activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), a transcription factor involved in the antioxidant defense system of aged rats. Methods: Aged male Wistar rats were calorie-restricted and treated with EGCG orally for 45 days. The initial body weight of aged rats was recorded, and the final body weight was measured at the end of the experimental period. Serum lipid and lipoprotein status, oxidative stress markers such as free radicals and malondialdehyde levels, and reduced glutathione were assessed. In addition, RT-PCR and Western blotting analyses were performed. Results: Calorie restriction potentiated the effect of EGCG on enhancing antioxidant status, improving the levels of serum lipid and lipoproteins, upregulating Nrf2 and Bcl2, and downregulating Keap1, cullin3, Bax and cytochrome c in aged rats. Conclusions: Calorie restriction can promote EGCG-mediated Nrf2 activation in aged rats. This preliminary finding paves the way for a combinatory approach to replenishing the antioxidant status during aging, thereby reducing the risk for age-associated degenerative diseases.