Objective: To study the effect of puerarin on the Nrf2/ARE pathway in substantia nigra tissue of Parkinson's disease (PD) rats model induced by 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Method: SD PD rats model was established

the rats were randomly divided into 5 groups: model group

madopar group (40 mg·kg-1)

low-

medium-and high-dosage groups of puerarin (20

40

80 mg·kg-1).The drugs were intragastrically perfused to rats daily for 30 consecutive days.The activities of γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS)

glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT) in substantia nigra tissue were tested by ELISA method.The expression of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) mRNA was tested by RT-PCR assay.And the nuclear factor E2-related factor 2(Nrf2)

Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1(Keapl) protein expressions were tested by Western blot analysis. Result: Compared to model group

puerarin effectually elevated the activityof γ-GCS

GSH and CAT in substantia nigra tissue of PD rats (P<0.01).And the COX expression at mRNA level in substantia nigra was upregulated (P<0.01).The expression of Nrf2 and Keapl proteins was markedly increased. Conclusion: The results reveal that puerarin effectively fight against the oxidative stress damage in nerve cells in substantia nigra of PD rats induced by 6-OHDA

and its probable mechanism may be involved in regulation of Nrf2/ARE pathway.