Hesperin is a bioactive ingredient present in Japanese horseradish (wasabi) and has been shown to be an Nrf2 activator.

Hesperin (6-Methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate, 6-MSITC) is an active compound in wasabi (Wasabia japonica Matsum.). Whether Hesperin induces cytotoxicity of HUVECs is determined. More than 1 μg/mL of Hesperin markedly induces cytotoxicity and morphological alterations. In subsequent experiments we used Hesperin is used at concentrations of 0-1 μg/mL, to study the anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory properties of Hesperin in HUVECs[2].

Hesperin (6-Methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate, 6-MSITC) activates Nrf2 and induces phase II enzyme genes but this induction is absent in Nrf2-null mice, suggesting that Hesperin is a potential activator of the Nrf2/ARE-dependent detoxification pathway. To determine whether Hesperin ameliorates hepatic steatosis and iron accumulation, wild-type and Nrf2-null mice are fed the following diets for 12 weeks: 1) control diet, 2) high-fat diet (HFD), 3) HFD plus Hesperin (10 mg/kg/day ip), 4) HFD for 6 weeks followed by an iron-supplemented HFD for 6 weeks (HFD/Iron), 5) HFD/Iron plus Hesperin. The HFD increased hepatic triglycerides in both genotypes and Hesperin suppress increased hepatic triglycerides in wild-type mice but do not reduce thesetriglycerides in Nrf2-null mice[1].

[1]. Tanaka Y, et al. 6-Methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate prevents high-fat diet-induced fatty liver but fails to attenuate hepatic iron accumulation in mice. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol. 2016 Nov;43(11):1153-1156. [2]. Okamoto T, et al. 6-Methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate modulates endothelial cell function and suppresses leukocyte adhesion. J Nat Med. 2014 Jan;68(1):144-53.