Lunasin attenuates oxidant‐induced endothelial injury and inhibits atherosclerotic plaque progression in ApoE−/−mice by up‐regulating heme oxygenase‐1viaPI3K/Akt/Nrf2/ARE pathway

Oxidative stress-induced vascular endothelial cell (VEC) injury is a major mechanism in the initiation and development of atherosclerosis. Lunasin, a soybean-derived 43-aa peptide, has been previously shown to possess potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities other than its established anticancer activities. This study investigated the effects of lunasin on protecting VECs from oxidative damage and inhibiting atherosclerotic plaque progression in apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE