Isoliquiritigenin attenuates inflammation and modulates Nrf2/caspase-3 signalling in STZ-induced aortic injury

The current study provides evidence on the ameliorative impact of Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a natural bioflavonoid isolated from licorice roots against diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced aortic injury in rats.

DM was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by single I.P. injection of STZ (50 mg/kg). ISL was administrated daily (20 mg/kg, orally) for 8 wks.

Diabetic group showed a significant aortic injury with evidence of atherosclerotic lesions development. Daily ISL (20 mg/kg, orally) administration for 8 wks significantly restored aortic oxidative/antioxidative stress homeostasis via modulating NrF-2/Keap-1/HO-1. Moreover, ISL treatment restored aortic levels of IL-10 and dampened aortic levels of IL-6 and TNF-α. Caspase-3 expression significantly declined as well. Further, ISL treatment successfully suppressed aortic endothelin-1 (ET-1) expression and restored NO contents, eNOS immunostaining paralleled with retraction in atherosclerotic lesions development, and lipid deposition with histopathological architectural preservation and restoration of almost normal aortic thickness.

ISL can be proposed to be an effective protective therapy to prevent progression of DM-induced vascular injury and to preserve aortic integrity.