Where Science Meets Wellness

Nrf2 activation has been shown to promote the expression of protective genes that promote a healthy balance in bone remodeling, improve bone fracture recovery, and reduce inflammation in cartilage cells.

For more information on this topic see: 

Andrie KM, Palmer DR, Wahl O, Bork S, Campbell M, Walsh MA, Sanford J, Musci RV, Hamilton KL, Santangelo KS, Puttlitz CM. Treatment with PB125® Increases Femoral Long Bone Strength in 15-Month-Old Female Hartley Guinea Pigs. Ann Biomed Eng. 2024 Mar;52(3)

and 

Che J, Yang X, Jin Z, Xu C. Nrf2: A promising therapeutic target in bone-related diseases. Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Dec;168:115748

Nrf2 regulates inflammatory responses of cells in the immune system. By influencing the redox status of immune cells, Nrf2 activators may help control the immune response and protect against adverse effects of inflammation.

For more information on this topic see: 

McCord JM, Gao B, Hybertson BM. The Complex Genetic and Epigenetic Regulation of the Nrf2 Pathways: A Review. Antioxidants (Basel). 2023 Feb 3;12(2):366

and 

Pant T, Uche N, Juric M, Zielonka J, Bai X. Regulation of immunomodulatory networks by Nrf2-activation in immune cells: Redox control and therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases. Redox Biol. 2024 Apr;70:103077

and

McCord JM, Hybertson BM, Cota-Gomez A, Gao B. Nrf2 activator PB125® as a carnosic acid-based therapeutic agent against respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19. Free Radic Biol Med. 2021 Nov 1;175:56-64.

Nrf2 activation has been shown to upregulate a variety of genes that create enzymes and other proteins involved in detoxification and cytoprotection. This enhancement of protection and age and stress-induced damage may help extend the human healthspan.

For more information on this topic see: 

Hybertson BM, Gao B, Bose S, McCord JM. Phytochemical Combination PB125 Activates the Nrf2 Pathway and Induces Cellular Protection against Oxidative Injury. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 May 3;8(5):119

and

Matsumaru D, Motohashi H. The KEAP1-NRF2 System in Healthy Aging and Longevity. Antioxidants (Basel). 2021 Nov 30;10(12):1929

Mitochondrial function is a crucial aspect of muscle health, and Nrf2 plays a key role in mitochondrial homeostasis. Nrf2 has been shown to regulate genes involved in making new and discarding old mitochondria, mitochondrial respiration, and energy metabolism.

For more information on this topic see: 

Musci RV, Andrie KM, Walsh MA, Valenti ZJ, Linden MA, Afzali MF, Bork S, Campbell M, Johnson T, Kail TE, Martinez R, Nguyen T, Sanford J, Wist S, Murrell MD, McCord JM, Hybertson BM, Zhang Q, Javors MA, Santangelo KS, Hamilton KL. Phytochemical compound PB125 attenuates skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction and impaired proteostasis in a model of musculoskeletal decline. J Physiol. 2023 Jun;601(11):2189-2216.

and

Rahman FA, Hian-Cheong DJ, Thoms JP. Plants powering muscle: The effects of phytochemical PB125 on mitochondrial function and skeletal muscle health. J Physiol. 2023 Jun;601(11):2221-2223

Recent work has shown that Nrf2 activation helps protect cells in the central nervous system, support the health of mitochondria in the brain, and enhance cognitive function.

For more information on this topic see: 

Gray NE, Farina M, Tucci P, Saso L. The Role of the NRF2 Pathway in Maintaining and Improving Cognitive Function. Biomedicines. 2022 Aug 21;10(8):2043

and

Infantino V, Pappalardo I, Santarsiero A, Tripathi S, Singh G, de Oliveira MR. Brain Mitochondria as a Therapeutic Target for Carnosic Acid. J Integr Neurosci. 2024 Mar 7;23(3):53

We are constantly exposed to oxidants that come from both inside and outside of our bodies, and the human body has its own antioxidant defense system to protect itself.This system is controlled by Nrf2 which regulates the gene expression and protein production of antioxidant defense enzymes.

For more information on this topic see: 

Hybertson BM, Gao B, Bose S, McCord JM. Phytochemical Combination PB125 Activates the Nrf2 Pathway and Induces Cellular Protection against Oxidative Injury. Antioxidants (Basel). 2019 May 3;8(5):119

and

Simenauer A, Assefa B, Rios-Ochoa J, Geraci K, Hybertson B, Gao B, McCord J, Elajaili H, Nozik-Grayck E, Cota-Gomez A. Repression of Nrf2/ARE regulated antioxidant genes and dysregulation of the cellular redox environment by the HIV Transactivator of Transcription. Free Radic Biol Med. 2019 Sep;141:244-252

NAD+/NADH serves as the energy currency for our cells, and these molecules can be recycled in our bodies from any of several “building blocks”– Nicotinamide (NAM), nicotinamide riboside (NR), or nicotinamide nucleotide (NMN).  Several highly marketed supplements claim to solve the problem by providing more of these recyclable building blocks, but to make a biochemical pathway go faster, piling on more of the building blocks is usually not the answer— the rates of pathways are controlled by enzymes, and one enzyme in any pathway is always rate-limiting (i.e., the slowest person in a cafeteria line).  Furthermore, the concentrations of these “building blocks” are kept low in your body for a reason—NMN becomes toxic at high concentrations.

Because Nrf2 regulates both enzymes required for recycling, PB125® increases the levels of both NAMPT (the rate-limiting enzyme for recycling NAM) and NMNAT1, the enzyme required to convert NMN to NAD+.  The result is a better, safer way to restore youthful levels of NAD+/NADH.

For more information on this topic see: 

Conlon N, Ford D. A systems-approach to NAD+ restoration. Biochem Pharmacol. 2022 Apr;198:114946