NADPH oxidase is a membrane enzyme complex belonging to the class of oxidoreductases. This enzyme catalyzes the oxidation reaction of NADPH by oxygen (O₂) to NADP⁺, H⁺, and O₂•⁻. NADPH oxidase induces the production of ROS in cells. In humans, there are seven NADPH oxidase (NOX) types: NOX1, NOX2, NOX3, NOX4, NOX5, DUOX1, and DUOX2. It is composed of six functional subunits. Cytochrome b558 is integrated into the membrane. It consists of two subunits: p22^phox and NOX2. The G protein called Rap 1A binds the guanosine triphosphate/guanosine diphosphate (GTP/GDP). It is linked to cytochrome b558 and is activated when associated with GTP. The p47^phox subunit acts as an organizer by translocating the p67^phox and p40^phox subunits to the membrane. The p67^phox subunit associates with cytochrome b558 to activate the oxidase activity of the enzyme. The p40^phox subunit plays a role in regulating the enzymatic activity. Finally, the Rac subunit is cytosolic and linked to the GDP in its non-activated form. When activated, it binds to GTP and associates with cytochrome b558 on the membrane.

Andrographolide (100 μg/kg, iv) reduced brain damage in a mouse model of cerebral ischemia. It reduced NOX2 (gp91^phox) expression via a limiting of Phosphoinositide 3-kinase/ Protein Kinase B (PI3K/AKT)-dependent nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation. Andrographolide (10 µM) reduced NOX2 expression in BV2 microglial line after 8 h of oxygen-glucose deprivation [53]. In a diabetic mouse model induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin, the effects of andrographolide on the myocardium were explored. Results demonstrated that andrographolide improved the deleterious effects of oxidative stress by NADPH oxidase reduction. Indeed, andrographolide (10 and 20 mg/kg/day) significantly decreased of NOX2, NOX4, and p47^phox expressions in the myocardial tissues. Similarly, the effect of andrographolide was shown in H9c2 cardiomyoblasts exposed to high glucose (25 mM). Treatment with andrographolide (1, 5, and 10 µM) significantly reduced the expression of NOX2, NOX4, and p47^phox [54]. It modified the NADPH oxidase expression but it also modified its activity. It inhibited the NADPH oxidase activation in the lung tissue of rats after treatment with LPS (5 mg/kg). Andrographolide (0.18 and 1.8 g/kg) also decreased the translocation of the p47^phox and p67^phox subunits from the cytoplasm to the nucleus [55]. To activate NADPH oxidase, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) prompts the translocation of the p47^phox and p67^phox subunits from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In the endothelial line EA.hy926, andrographolide (7.5 µM) reduced the translocation of the p47^phox and p67^phox subunits [56]. In human colorectal cancer line HCT116 cells, andrographolide (20 µM) decreased the translocation of the p47^phox subunit [57].

Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases [58]. However, the production of low ROS concentration acts as messengers to activate signaling pathways. Therefore, the generation of ROS in low concentration is of interest. ROS production activates the antioxidant system in order to anticipate and protect against oxidative damage. For example, this “vaccine” effect has been studied in RIN-mβ cell line of the pancreas with an andrographolide derivative containing a lipoic acid. Andrographolide-lipoic acid conjugate (0.01–0.1 and 1 µM) increased the ROS level in a dose-dependent manner after 1 h by increased expression of NADPH oxidase. As a result, the expressions of the antioxidant proteins Thioredoxin-1 (Trx1), Peroxiredoxin-1 (Prx1), Peroxiredoxin-5 (Prx5), Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), SOD1, and SOD2 were up-regulated. Together, they protect the cells from H₂O₂-induced apoptosis [59].

Xanthine oxidase catalyzes the terminal steps of purine degradation, converting hypoxanthine to xanthine, and xanthine to uric acid and hydrogen peroxide. In humans, xanthine oxidase controls the final step of purine catabolism and is normally found in the liver and the intestinal mucosa. Xanthine oxidase is considered an essential source of O₂•⁻ and H₂O₂ in inflammatory diseases [60,61].

Currently, no study has proven any effect of pure andrographolide for xanthine oxidase. However, a single report from Lin et al. showed an inhibitory effect to xanthine oxidase activity by two extracts of Andrographis paniculata. The extracts were obtained from water or ethanol extraction. The aqueous extract and ethanolic extract inhibited xanthine oxidase activity with an IC₅₀ of 13.62 µg/mL and 26.60 µg/mL, respectively [41]. Both extracts contained andrographolide. Nevertheless, in this study, there was no evidence that the observed effect came from andrographolide. However, a silico study showed strong binding interactions between xanthine oxidase and andrographolide. The interaction was with four amino acids and the binding energy was −4.57 kcal/mol [62]. These results suggest that andrographolide may be a potent inhibitor of xanthine oxidase.

SOD represents the first defenses of the body against oxidative stress. SOD ensures the elimination of the superoxide anion in hydrogen peroxide by a dismutation reaction (2O₂⁻ + 2H⁺ → H₂O₂ + O₂). Then, H₂O₂ is supported by enzymes with peroxidase activity. In mammals, there are three isoenzymes: a cytosolic and nuclear form associated with copper and zinc ions (CU/ZN-SOD₁), a mitochondrial form associated with manganese (Mn-SOD₂), and an extracellular form (EC-SOD₃). These enzymes differ in their chromosomal location, quaternary structure, metal content, and cell localization [63].

Catalase catalyzes the disproportionation of hydrogen peroxide into water and oxygen (2H₂O₂ → 2H₂O + O₂). CAT is mainly located in the peroxisome, and also in the cytoplasm. CAT protects against the harmful effects of excessive amounts of H₂O₂ [64].

GPx is a complete system that reduces peroxides at the expense of its specific substrate, reduced glutathione (GSH). GPx plays a central role in the H₂O₂ removal mechanism. Its main role is lipid peroxide elimination resulting from oxidative stress action on polyunsaturated lipids. The GPx-catalyzed reaction requires the presence of GSH as the electron donor (2GSH + H₂O₂ → GSSG + 2H₂O). The product formed is glutathione disulfite (GSSG). GSSG is then reduced by glutathione reductase (GR) using NADPH (GSSG + NADPH + H⁺ → 2GSH + NADP⁺) [65,66]. The GSH/GSSG ratio is an index of the oxidation state in the cells [67]. There are several isoforms of GPx containing selenium: cytosolic and mitochondrial GPx, cytosolic GPX, and extracellular GPx.

Several studies have shown that andrographolide restores SOD and CAT activities in cells treated with oxidative stress inducers. For example, oral treatment with andrographolide (5 mg/kg, 7 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg) restored SOD and CAT activities due to treatment with hexachlorocyclohexane [68]. In rat erythrocytes, SOD and CAT activities were reduced by treatment with Carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). Treatment of rats with a methanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata (1 g/kg) restored SOD and CAT activities after stimulation by CCl₄ [69]. Another dataset reported that SOD activity was significantly increased in serum of hyperglipidemic rats by oral administration of andrographolide 10 and 20 mg/kg [70]. SOD activity increased in the liver, kidneys, heart, and red blood cells of rats treated with andrographolide (30 and 50 mg/kg/day). Catalase activity increased in a dose-dependent manner only in the heart of treated rats. SOD1 protein levels in the liver, kidneys, and heart of rats were increased by treatment with andrographolide. Finally, SOD1 mRNA levels increased in the liver and kidneys of rats treated with andrographolide [25]. A study on atherogenic rabbits showed that the bacterium Porphyromonas gingivalis decreased the activities of SOD and CAT. These effects were reversed by oral administration of andrographolide at 10 or 20 mg/kg [71]. SOD, CAT, and GSH activities decreased in the gastric tissue of rats treated with indomethacin. Oral administration of andrographolide sodium bisulfate (40, 80, and 160 mg/kg) 7 days before treatment with indomethacin reduced oxidative stress by restoring SOD, CAT, and GSH activities [72]. Mice treated with arsenic have decreased SOD and CAT activities. Oral administration of andrographolide or andrographolide nanoparticles increased these activities in groups co-treated with arsenic [73]. SOD and CAT activities are decreased in the brains of diabetic rats. These reductions were less significant in diabetic mice treated orally with andrographolide at doses of 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg or with hydromethanolic extract of Andrographis paniculata [74]. Another diabetes study showed similar results in a model of rats with diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin injection. SOD and CAT activities were reduced in the hippocampus, hypothalamus, and cerebellum of the cerebral cortex of the rat brain. However, andrographolide supplementation (2.5 mg/kg) reduces SOD and CAT activities to normal levels [75]. In the lung tissues of mice treated with bleomycin, SOD activity decreased compared to untreated mice. Co-treatment with andrographolide (25, 50, and 100 mg/kg) significantly increased the SOD activity in a dose-dependent manner [76]. Topical application of sodium bisulfate andrographolide (0.4–1.2 and 3.6 mg/mouse) to the skin of mice exposed to UV radiation resulted in a dose-dependent increase in SOD and CAT activity compared to untreated mice [77]. In contrast, andrographolide sodium bisulfate significantly decreased SOD activity in the kidneys of mice treated with 150 and 1000 mg/kg [78].

Some studies show the effect of andrographolide on antioxidant enzyme activity in vitro models. In RIN-m lineage, andrographolide conjugated with alpha-lipoic acid increased SOD and CAT activities [79]. Similarly, in chondrocytes isolated from rat articular cartilage, andrographolide at 0.625, and 2.5 µg/mL increased SOD protein content; SOD and CAT activity; and SOD1, SOD2, and CAT expression after exposure with H₂O₂ [31]. In contrast, in HK-2 human kidney cell line, treatment with andrographolide sodium bisulfate decreased SOD activity by 30 to 120 µM in a dose-dependent manner, and significantly from 60 µM onwards [80]. This decrease contributes to the induction of cell apoptosis by oxidative stress. These results are supported by another study on lymphocytes isolated from rats. In this report, SOD activity was reduced in the presence of nicotine. Treatment with andrographolide (5, 10, and 20 µg/mL) or an aqueous extract of Andrographis paniculata improved SOD activity in lymphocytes [49].

Andrographolide induces an increase in Nrf2 expression and its translocation to the cell nucleus, independently of the cell type studied. This translocation increases ARE promoter and SOD, CAT, glutamate-Cysteine Ligase Catalytic Subunit (GCLC), glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier subunit (GCLM), sulfiredoxin-1 (SRXN1), thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1), glutathione-disulfide reductase (GSR), and glutathione reductase (GR) expressions. These enzymes have cytoprotective, antioxidant, and detoxifying effects. Also, the stress protein HO-1 is protective against oxidative aggressions. Its expression was increased by andrographolide via Nrf2. HO-1 generates antioxidant compounds including carbon monoxide, bilirubin, and free iron. In the absence of oxidative stress, Nrf2 remains sequestered in the cytoplasm by the Keap-1 protein, and it is rapidly degraded by the proteasome. In most studies, andrographolide does not appear to regulate Keap-1. The main effects of andrographolide on in vitro models are summarized in Table 1.

Andrographolide (2.5–5 and 7.5 µM) induces a dose-dependent increase in HO-1 expression in the endothelial cell line EA.hy926 after a 16 h pre-treatment followed by incubation with TNF-α (1 ng/mL) for 6 h. Treatment with 7.5 µM andrographolide improves the dissociation of Nrf2 to Keap-1 and their nuclear translocation. Nrf2 can bind to ARE sequences, which explains the increase in HO-1 expression in cells [81]. In another study on EA.hy926, treatment with 7.5 µM andrographolide induced HO-1 synthesis in these cells [82]. In the bronchial cell line BEAS-2B simulated by cigarette smoke extract, treatment with 30 µM andrographolide reduced oxidative stress. This treatment favored the nuclear translocation of Nrf2 and its binding to ARE sequences. This phenomenon thus led to positive regulation of the antioxidant genes GCLM, GCLC, GPx-2, GR, and HO-1. Cellular GSH levels were significantly increased by andrographolide in cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract for 24 h [32,83]. The human hepatoma line Huh-7 has decreased HO-1 promoter activity when it contains hepatitis C virus replicons (Ava5 cells). This activity increased in a dose-dependent manner when Ava5 cells were treated with andrographolide (1–5 and 10 µM) for 72 h. In correlation, HO-1 expression was dose-dependently increased with andrographolide (5, 7.5, and 10 µM). Finally, HO-1 protein synthesis increased significantly after 7.5 µM of andrographolide. The total amount of Nrf2 protein increased dose-dependently from andrographolide to 5 µM. The amount of nuclear Nrf2 protein also increased strongly from andrographolide to 7.5 µM. With 10 µM of andrographolide, the accumulation of Nrf2 protein in the nucleus increased with time, from 3 to 24 h of treatment. The DNA binding activity of Nrf2 decreased in Ava5 cells compared to Huh-7 control cells. Treatment with andrographolide (5, 7.5, and 10 µM) for 72 h significantly and dose-dependently increased this activity as early as 5 µM. No significant changes in Keap-1 protein levels were observed in the presence of andrographolide. The formed Nrf2 protein is therefore not advantageously eliminated by ubiquitination [84]. GSH content increased in the endothelial cell line EA.hy926 by treatment with andrographolide at 7.5 µM after 24 h. Only GCLM and HO-1 but no GCLC expressions increased time-dependently with treatment with andrographolide at 7.5 µM. Nrf2 was activated by andrographolide and participates in the induction of HO-1 and GCLM expression from 1 h of treatment and maintained up to 4 h [56]. In primary endothelial cells of mouse brains treated with andrographolide at 5 or 10 µM, the amount of HO-1 mRNA and protein increased with time. The increase in HO-1 protein was significant after 4 h of treatment and the increase in HO-1 expression was significant after 2 h of treatment with andrographolide at 10 µM. These inductions were greater with 10 µM andrographolide than with 5 µM. Andrographolide (10 µM) activates Nrf2 via its phosphorylation on ser⁴⁰. A translocation of Nrf2 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus was also observed in cells treated with andrographolide (10 µM) after 30 min of treatment [85]. Primary culture of rat astrocytes treated for 1h with different concentrations of andrographolide showed an increase in Nrf2 protein. Treatment with andrographolide at 50 µM increased the RNAm Nrf2 from 24 h of treatment while the protein level increased significantly from 30 min of treatment and was maintained until 24 h. The positive regulation of protein level is therefore not related to the increase in gene expression but rather to the regulation of protein turnover, such as the improvement of protein stability. The Nrf2 protein increased significantly in the cell fraction and the nuclear fraction after 1 h and 30 min of treatment with andrographolide at 50 µM, respectively. However, andrographolide did not affect the phosphorylation of Nrf2 on ser⁴⁰ or Keap-1 levels. Andrographolide, therefore, does appear to induce accumulation of Nrf2 in the nucleus via the escape of Nrf2 to its degradation by the proteasome. The cycloheximide use, an inhibitor of the initiation and elongation of de novo protein synthesis, showed that Nrf2 had a half-life of 10 min. However, with andrographolide (50 µM), its half-life was reduced to 40 min. Indeed, andrographolide reduced the ubiquitination of Nrf2. This mechanism can explain the increased stability of Nrf2 in cells and therefore the positive regulation of its effector genes. HO-1 expression was increased after 2 h of incubation with andrographolide at 50 µM, whereas the HO-1 protein level was increased after 4 h [86]. In HT22, a mice neuronal cell line, andrographolide increased cytoplasmic and nuclear protein levels in a dose-dependent manner after 24 h of treatment. These increases were significant at 10 µM. Also, the Keap-1 content was not modified by andrographolide at 10 µM for 24 h. The transcription activity of ARE sequences increased with andrographolide treatment (1, 5, and 10 µM) in a concentration-dependent manner for 16 h. HO-1 expression and HO-1 protein content increased and varied with andrographolide concentration for 24 h [87]. In H9c2, a rat myoblast cell line, stimulation with 25 mM glucose reduced the amount of Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins. Co-stimulation with andrographolide (0.1, 1, 5, and 10 µM) increased the Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in the cells [54]. In chondrocytes isolated from rat articular cartilage, andrographolide at 0.625 and 2.5 µg/mL increased the Nrf2 protein after exposure with H₂O₂ [31]. The amyloid peptide beta 1-42 (Aβ42) (10 µM) reduced Nrf2 mRNA and protein after 24 h of treatment in the PC12 line derived from tumor cells of the adrenal medulla in rats. Pre-treatment with andrographolide at 20 µM for 1 h restored the Nrf2 protein content and increased its expression [88]. Andrographolide increased Nrf2 transcription activity and protein concentration in HEK293T cells. Indeed, the cells were treated with different concentrations of andrographolide (1, 7.5, 15, 30, 60 and 120 µM) for 4 h. The Nrf2 protein increased from 7.5 µM and in a dose-dependent manner up to 120 µM. In addition, andrographolide (7.5 µM) increased Nrf2 protein levels in a time-dependent manner from 1 to 8 h of treatment. The transcriptional activity of the ARE sequences was increased via treatment with andrographolide at 7.5 µM for 24 h. Andrographolide (7.5 µM) induced Nrf2 by regulating its Keap-1 inhibitor via interaction with Cys¹⁵¹ after 6 h of treatment [89]. This mechanism is similar to sulforaphane [90,91,92]. Andrographolide (7.5 µM) also caused a 30% decrease in the binding between CUL3 and Keap-1 depending on Cys¹⁵¹. This disruption had the consequence of inhibiting the transfer of ubiquitin to Nrf2 and therefore its degradation by the proteasome. At low concentration (7.5 µM), andrographolide decreased the binding between CUL3 and Keap-1 and stabilized the Nrf2 protein depending on Cys¹⁵¹, whereas treatment with a high concentration of andrographolide (100 µM) increased the binding from CUL3 to Keap-1 and induced Nrf2 independently of Cys¹⁵¹ [89]. Andrographis paniculata extracts enriched with andrographolide by phytoconcentration were studied. Effects on the Nrf2 pathway in a human hepatic cell line, HepG2, were observed [93]. An unenriched plant extract (AP), 10% (AP10), and 20% (AP20) enriched extracts of andrographolide and pure andrographolide at 20 µM (AN20) and 40 µM (AN40) were used. Except for the AP treatment, all treatments significantly increased Nrf2 expression. An increase total Nrf2 and nuclear Nrf2 was induced by all treatments. Moreover, all treatments except AP significantly increased HO-1 expression. Similarly, all treatments increased the HO-1 protein in the cells. HO-1 is positively regulated by Nrf2 and negatively by BACH-1 and mir-377. Andrographolide did not modify the BACH-1 expression. Yet, all treatments except AP had reduced mir-377 expression. The GSH content was increased by all treatments. In addition, GCLC, GCLM, and GS expressions were significantly increased by all treatments, particularly by AP20, by negatively regulating mir-433. Treatments increased GR mRNA, protein, and enzyme activity. On the other hand, GPx1 expression and total GPx activity were decreased by upregulating mir-181a [93].

New andrographolide derivatives have been discovered, some of which are natural derivatives, others of which are synthetic derivatives derived from chemistry [1,28,94]. For example, CHP1002 is a restructured derivative of andrographolide. This synthetic molecule has the same central nucleus as andrographolide and two polyethylene glycol molecules to improve water solubility and stability of andrographolide. In the RAW264 macrophage line, CHP1002 at 25–50 or 100 µM improved HO-1 protein levels in a dose-dependent manner. The HO-1 protein was increased from 4 h of treatment with a peak at 6 h. Moreover, the expression of the HO-1 gene was induced by CHP1002 after 2 h of treatment. The Nrf2 pathway was studied to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of HO-1 induction by CHP1002. Treatment with 100 µM of CHP1002 increased the level of Nrf2 protein in total cellular homogenates from 2 h after treatment to 8 h compared to the untreated control. Also, an accumulation of the Nrf2 protein in the nucleus was observed as early as 2 h after treatment, and persisted and increased until 6 h [95].

The main effects of andrographolide on in vivo models are summarized in Table 2. Andrographolide increased Nrf2 translocation and its binding activity to ARE sequences in the liver of Sprague–Dawley rats intragastrically treated with 30 or 50 mg/kg/day andrographolide for 5 consecutive days [25]. With regard to Nrf2 targets, the andrographolide treatment induced the following results:

• SOD activity increased in the liver, kidney, heart, and red blood cells;
• CAT activity increased in the heart;
• GSH peroxidase activity increased in the kidney;
• GSH reductase increased in the kidney, heart, and red blood cells;
• GSH S-transferase increased in the liver;
• GSH protein increased in the heart;
• antioxidant proteins (SOD1, GST Ya, GST Yb, HO-1, GCLC, and GCLM) increased in the liver, kidney, and heart;
• The mRNA of GCLC, GCLM, GST Ya/Yb, SOD1, and HO-1 increased in the liver and kidney.

Andrographolide increased HO-1 protein in the brain of Wistar rats treated with 0.1 mg/kg by intraperitoneal for 6 h [85]. It increased Nrf2 translocation and decreased Keap-1 mRNA expression in lung of BALB/c mice treated with 5 or 10 mg/kg andrographolide by intraperitoneal for 1 and 24 h [96]. In this study, mRNA expression of HO-1, GR, GCLM, GPx-2, and NQO1 increased by andrographolide treatment. Andrographolide increased Nrf2 and HO-1 proteins in liver of BALB/c mice treated with LPS/D-galactosamine (1 h) followed andrographolide (2.5, 5, or 10 mg/kg) by intraperitoneal for 8 h [6]. Andrographolide increased Nrf2 translocation in liver of C57BL/6 mice orally treated with acetaminophen for 2 weeks and co-treated with andrographolide (20 or 40 mg/kg) every day during an additional 4 weeks [33]. Moreover, andrographolide reversed the decreased hepatic expression of GCLC, GCLM, and HO-1 mRNA expression induced by acetaminophen. It increased Nrf2 mRNA in the heart of C57BL/6 mice treated with streptozotocin by intraperitoneal injection followed by intragastric gavage of andrographolide (1, 10, or 20 mg/kg/day) for 12 weeks [54]. In the same way, this treatment increased SOD activity, decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), and decreased mRNA of Nox2, Nox-4, p47^phox, Nrf2, and HO-1.

Andrographolide increased Nrf2 protein in lung of Balb/c mice sensitized (dermally and intranasally) with toluene diisocyanate for asthma induction and treated with andrographolide 0.1, 0.5, or 1 mg/kg [97]. HO-1 protein increased only with the dose 1 mg/kg of andrographolide. A synthetic derivative of andrographolide by conjugation with an alpha-lipoic acid increased Nrf2 and HO-1 expression in the β cells of the Langerhans islets of rats RIN-m [79].

Overall, andrographolide improved Nrf2 expression, increasing its mRNA and protein. Andrographolide activated the Nrf2 pathway by increasing in its nuclear translocation. However, this mechanism does not appear to be related to the decreased expression of its inhibitor, Keap-1. Many studies showed the binding of Nrf2 to the ARE sequence, promoted by andrographolide. Nrf2 is considered to be the main regulator of oxidative stress. This transcription factor activates the expression of a wide variety of genes containing the ARE sequence in their promoter regions. These genes are involved in antioxidant cell defense. It includes antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, and GPx), as well as detoxification enzymes (HO-1, NQO1, and GST), and other stress response proteins contributing to the fight against oxidative damage (γ-GCS, GR, GCLC, GCLM, G6PDH, and GR).