Zonarol, a sesquiterpene from the brown algae Dictyopteris undulata, provides neuroprotection by activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway.

Seaweed-origin electrophilic compounds are proposed as a class of neuroprotective compounds that provide neuroprotection through activation of the Nrf2/ARE pathway. Electrophilic hydroquinones are of particular interest due to their ability to become electrophilic quinones upon auto-oxidation. Although many marine plants produce a variety of electrophilic compounds, the detailed mechanism of action of these compounds remain unknown. Here, we focused on the neuroprotective effects of zonarol (ZO), a para-hydroquinone-type pro-electrophilic compound from the brown algae Dictyopteris undulata. We show that ZO activates the Nrf2/ARE pathway, induces phase-2 enzymes, and protects neuronal cells from oxidative stress. ZO is the first example of a neuroprotective pro-electrophilic compound obtained from brown algae.

海藻来源的亲电化合物被提议作为一类神经保护化合物，其通过激活Nrf2/ARE通路提供神经保护。亲电氢醌由于其在自氧化时能够变成亲电醌的能力而备受关注。尽管许多海洋植物产生多种亲电化合物，但这些化合物的详细作用机制仍然未知。在此，我们聚焦于昆布醇（ZO）的神经保护作用，它是一种来自褐藻网地藻的对氢醌型前亲电化合物。我们表明ZO激活Nrf2/ARE通路，诱导Ⅱ相酶，并保护神经元细胞免受氧化应激。ZO是从褐藻中获得的具有神经保护作用的前亲电化合物的首个实例。