Dietary Regulation of Keap1/Nrf2/ARE Pathway: Focus on Acai Berries and Pistachios and Cashews as Natural Food Sources

Abstract

Inflammation is a biological reaction to oxidative stress in which cell starts producing proteins, enzymes, and other substances to restore homeostasis, while oxidative stress could be intrinsically a biochemical imbalance of the physiologically redox status of the intracellular environment. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway, which controls the transcription of numerous antioxidant genes that protect cellular homeostasis and detoxification genes that process and eliminate all toxic compounds and substances before they can cause damage. The Nrf2 pathway is the heart of the daily biological response to oxidative stress. Transient activation of Nrf2 by diet can upregulate antioxidant enzymes to protect cells against oxidative stress inducers. In this chapter, we summarize the effects of some novel foods in the regulation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway and its cellular mechanisms.