Anti‑oxidation effect of Genistein in vascular endothelial cell after H2O2 stress

Atherosclerosis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by increased oxidative injury in vascular endothelial cells. Inhibiting the oxidative damage of vascular endothelial cells can effectively prevent the occurrence and development of AS. Of note, Genistein (GEN; ID no. 5280961) is phytochemical found in legume family which has flavonoid properties with multiple potential biological activities including antioxidant, anti‑inflammatory and anticancer. Antioxidant capacity of GEN has a potential protective effect on vascular endothelial cells after oxidative stress. In the present study, the protective effect of GEN on H2O2‑induced oxidation damage was investigated in human vascular endothelial cells (HUVECs). Following GEN pretreatment of HUVECs, H2O2 was added, and apoptosis was detected by flow cytometry, and the expression of relevant genes and proteins was detected by PCR and westerner blot. The results of the present study revealed that GEN significantly enhanced the cell survival rate and decreased the apoptotic rates of HUVECs after H2O2 stress. Besides, GEN reduced the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species by enhancing activity of antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase. Moreover, GEN also inhibited the apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells and enhanced the activation of the nuclear factor erythroid2‑related factor 2 (Nrf2)/heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1)/SOD pathway. Collectively, it was identified that GEN is an effective antioxidant which can reduce the oxidative damage by H2O2 through the Nrf2/HO‑1/SOD signaling pathway in HUVECs.