Emodin Attenuates the ECM Degradation and Oxidative Stress of Chondrocytes through the Nrf2/NQO1/HO-1 Pathway to Ameliorate Rat Osteoarthritis

Figure 3

Effect of emodin on ROS and the Nrf2/NQO1/HO-1 signaling pathway in chondrocytes. (a, b) Western blot was used to detect the protein expression of Nrf2, HO-1, and NQO1 and to analyze the effect of different concentrations of H₂O₂ on oxidative stress of chondrocytes for 12 h. (c) DCFH-DA fluorescence staining demonstrated that emodin and H₂O₂ inhibited the overproduction of ROS when cocultured. (d) Mean fluorescence intensity of chondrocytes after administration of emodin. (e) Expression levels of cytosolic Nrf2, NQO1, and HO-1 evaluated by Western blots (f) were quantified. (g) Expression levels of nuclear Nrf2 evaluated by Western blots (h) were quantified. Data were expressed as the (). .

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