Protective Effects of Sulforaphane on Exercise-Induced Organ Damage via Inducing Antioxidant Defense Responses

Abstract

Regular exercise is beneficial to maintain a healthy lifestyle, but the beneficial effects are lost in the case of acute exhaustive exercise; this causes significant inflammation, oxidative stress along with organ damage. Recently, sulforaphane (SFN), an indirect antioxidant, has drawn special attention for its potential protective effect against inflammation and oxidative stress. However, no studies have been performed regarding acute exhaustive exercise-induced organ damage in association with SFN administration. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of SFN on acute exhaustive exercise-induced organ damage and the mechanisms involved. To perform the study, we divided mice into four groups: Control, SFN, exercise, and SFN plus exercise. The SFN group was administered orally (50 mg/kg body wt) 2 h before the running test. We measured plasma levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and acute exhaustive exercise significantly increased these biomarkers. In addition, the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α, were significantly increased in the liver of exercise group. However, the SFN plus exercise group showed a significant reduction in the expression of cytokines and blood biomarkers of tissue damage or cell death. Furthermore, we measured mRNA expression of Nrf2, heme oxygenase (HO)-1, and antioxidant defense enzymes expression, i.e., superoxide dismutase (SOD1), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) in the liver. The expression of all these biomarkers was significantly upregulated in the SFN plus exercise group. Collectively, SFN may protect the liver from exhaustive exercise-induced inflammation via inducing antioxidant defense response through the activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signal transduction pathway.

The Integrative Role of Sulforaphane in Preventing Inflammation, Oxidative Stress and Fatigue: A Review of a Potential Protective Phytochemical

“…Furthermore, creatinine phosphokinase (CPK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (two enzymatic markers to assess muscle damage) were significantly lower after SFN treatment compared to a placebo [ 81 ]. SFN treatment also protects exercise-induced liver damage, evidenced by reducing blood levels of enzymes such as alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), via inducing antioxidant defense response through the transcriptional activation of the Nrf2/HO-1 signal transduction pathway [ 82 , 83 ]. Although exercise increases production of proinflammatory cytokines in the liver, kidney, and intestine [ 82 , 84 , 85 , 86 ], SFN induces phase 2 enzymes through Nrf2 activation in renal tissue to reduce renal oxidative insults [ 87 ].…”

A Brief Overview of Oxidative Stress in Adipose Tissue with a Therapeutic Approach to Taking Antioxidant Supplements

“…They can interact with the oxidized species at both cellular and molecular levels by regulating gene expression, epigenetic controls, and protein and DNA repair. Previously it was reported that nutraceuticals have potential properties in immunity modulation, gene expression, and various signaling process regulation [ 153 , 154 , 155 , 156 , 157 , 158 ]. The nutraceuticals can be prepared from the foods available in the local market, for example, ginger, garlic, avocado, and onion, in the form of polyphenols, carotenoids, sulforaphane and other isothiocyanates, glucosinolate, phytosterol, etc.…”

Acute effect of cyclophosphamide on rat’s urinary bladder and the possible protective role of sulforaphane: a histological and ultrastructural study

“…This improvement may be due to antioxidant effect of sulforaphane as mentioned by Ruhee et al who reported the antioxidant defense system of sulforaphane through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, on acute exhaustive exercise-induced inflammation. 27 Khaleel et al suggested that Nrf2 activation plays a critical role in mediating the protective effect of sulforaphane. 28 Sulforaphane (SFN) is an isothiocyanate abundant in cruciferous vegetables and, for a variety of diseases based on previous in vivo and in vitro studies, has been shown to be antioxidant via Nrf2 and can indirectly act as an antioxidant.…”