Qushi Huoxue ointment ameliorates metabolic associated steatotic liver disease through autophagy activation and ferroptosis inhibition

Figure 6 Qushi Huoxue ointment inhibits ferroptosis in metabolic associated steatotic liver disease mice. A: Representative immunohistochemical images of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) nuclear translocation in liver tissues. Scale bar: 100 μm and 20 μm; B: Quantitative analysis of Nrf2 expression by mean optical density; C: Western blot analysis of Nrf2 (using lamin B1 as internal reference), SLC7A11, and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) (using β-actin as internal reference) protein levels in liver tissues; D: Quantitative analysis of Nrf2, SLC7A11 and GPX4 protein levels; E: Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA expressions of SLC7A11 and GPX4 in liver tissues. Data are presented as means ± SD; ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. MASLD: Metabolic associated steatotic liver disease; QSHXO: Qushi Huoxue ointment; Nrf2: Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2; GPX4: Glutathione peroxidase 4.