Quercetin and lycopene co-administration prevents oxidative damage induced by d-galactose in mice

Quercetin and lycopene are strong dietary antioxidants that often co-exist in foods . Here, the cardiac and neuroprotective effects of quercetin and lycopene combination were analyzed in d -galactose-induced oxidative stress in mice. ICR mice were divided into control group, d -galactose group (D-GAL), quercetin treatment (Q45: 45 mg kg −1  d −1 quercetin, Q60: 60 mg kg −1  d −1 quercetin), lycopene treatment (15 mg kg −1  d −1 lycopene), and M groups (45 mg kg −1  d −1 quercetin+15 mg kg −1  d −1 lycopene). Mice were given quercetin, lycopene, and their combination through oral gavage for 6 weeks. They were injected with d -galactose (150 mg kg −1  d −1 ) simultaneously except for the control group. Results showed that the quercetin-lycopene combination could ameliorate histopathological injuries in the heart and hippocampus. They significantly decreased the serum and heart malonaldehyde (MDA) levels, heart 4-Hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) levels, and increased the activity of serum and heart superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and the hippocampal SOD and CAT mRNA level. Quercetin-lycopene combination exhibited anti-inflammation effects by reducing inflammatory genes such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β). The heart and hippocampal mRNA level of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression was up-regulated, and the antioxidant genes related to Nrf2 including heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), NAD(P)H Quinone Dehydrogenase 1 (NQO1) were elevated. Quercetin-lycopene combination significantly promoted the mRNA level of deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1), increased 3.3-fold and 3-fold SIRT1 expression in the heart and hippocampus, respectively. They could bind SIRT1 at the active site predicted by molecular docking . These results suggested that they may interact with SIRT1 to activate Nrf2, inhibit pro-inflammatory factors, and prevent oxidative stress in D-GAL-induced mice.