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

Hesperin is an active compound in wasabi. Whether Hesperin causes cytotoxicity of HUVECs is determined. To study the anti-coagulant and anti-inflammatory properties of Hesperin in HUVECs, in subsequent experiments we used Hesperin is used at concentrations of 0-1 μg/mL. More than 1 μg/mL of Hesperin markedly causes cytotoxicity and morphological alterations[2].

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 to determine whether Hesperin ameliorates hepatic steatosis and iron accumulation. Hesperin activates Nrf2 and causes phase II enzyme genes but this induction is absent in Nrf2-null mice, showing that Hesperin is a potential activator of the Nrf2/ARE-dependent detoxification pathway. The HFD enhanced hepatic triglycerides in both genotypes and Hesperin suppress increased hepatic triglycerides in wild-type mice but does not reduce these triglycerides in Nrf2-null mice[1].