β-Naphthoflavone

β-Naphthoflavone is an exogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligand. β-Naphthoflavone can activate AHR to participate in various biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and metabolism. β-Naphthoflavone has antioxidant activity and can exert its antioxidant function by regulating the activity of antioxidant enzymes. β-Naphthoflavone is also a non-carcinogenic CYP1A inducer and can be used to treat aristolochic acid (AAI) induced renal injury^[1][2][3]. In Vitro:β-Naphthoflavone (0.1, 1 and 10 µM; 3 days) increases CYP1A1 mRNA levels in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner and decreases the level of labile zinc in HepG2 cells by approximately 5%, 10% and 17%, respectively^[1].
β-Naphthoflavone (0-50 µM; 24 h) attenuats the decreased viability and increases apoptosis of neuronal SH-SY5Y cells induced by H₂O₂^[2].
β-Naphthoflavone (10 µM) significantly increases the activities of CAT and SOD enzymes in neuronal SH-SY5Y cells and inhibites p38MAPK to attenuate H₂O₂ induced damage^[2].
In Vivo:β-Naphthoflavone (80 mg/kg, i.p.; once daily for 3 days) protects mice from AAI-induced renal injury and reduces the accumulation of AAI in the mouse kidneys^[3].