AIM: To investigate the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on regulation of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)-antiox-idant response element (ARE) pathway in liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). METHODS: Rats were divided randomly into four ex-perimental groups: control, SFN control, intestinal I/R and SFN pretreatment groups (n = 8 in each group). The intestinal I/R model was established by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h and 2 h reperfu-sion. In the SFN pretreatment group, surgery was performed as in the intestinal I/R group, with intraperitoneal administration of 3 mg/kg SFN 1 h before the op-eration. Intestine and liver histology was investigated. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) were measured. Liver tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were assayed. The liver transcription factor Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting analysis.RESULTS: Intestinal I/R induced intestinal and liver injury, characterized by histological changes as well as a signif icant increase in serum AST and ALT levels (AST: 260.13 ± 40.17 U/L vs 186.00 ± 24.21 U/L, P < 0.01; ALT: 139.63 ± 11.35 U/L vs 48.38 ± 10.73 U/L, P < 0.01), all of which were reduced by pretreatment with SFN, respectively (AST: 260.13 ± 40.17 U/L vs 216.63 ± 22.65 U/L, P < 0.05; ALT: 139.63 ± 11.35 U/L vs 97.63 ± 15.56 U/L, P < 0.01). The activity of SOD in the liver tissue decreased after intestinal I/R (P < 0.01), which was enhanced by SFN pretreatment (P < 0.05). In ad-dition, compared with the control group, SFN markedly reduced liver tissue MPO activity (P < 0.05) and elevat-ed liver tissue GSH and GSH-Px activity (P < 0.05, P < 0.05), which was in parallel with the increased level of liver Nrf2 and HO-1 expression.CONCLUSION: SFN pretreatment attenuates liver injury induced by intestinal I/R in rats, attributable to the antioxidant effect through Nrf2-ARE pathway. AIM: To investigate the effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on regulation of NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) -antiox-idant response element (ARE) pathway in liver injury induced by intestinal ischemia / reperfusion (I / R). METHODS: Rats were divided into four ex-perimental groups: control, SFN control, intestinal I / R and SFN pretreatment groups (n = 8 in each group). The intestinal I / R model was established by clamping the superior mesenteric artery for 1 h and 2 h reperfu-sion. In the SFN pretreatment group, surgery was performed as in the intestinal I / R group, with intraperitoneal administration of 3 mg / kg SFN 1 h before the op-eration. Intestine and liver histology was investigated . Liver tissue superoxide dismutase (SOD), myeloperoxidase (MPO), glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity were assayed. The liver transcription factor Nrf2 and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and Western blotting analysis .RESULTS: Intestinal I / R induced intestinal and liver injury, characterized by histological changes as well as a signif icant increase in serum AST and ALT levels (AST: 260.13 ± 40.17 U / L vs. 186.00 ± ALT: 139.63 ± 11.35 U / L vs 48.38 ± 10.73 U / L, P <0.01), all of which were reduced by pretreatment with SFN, respectively (AST: 260.13 ± 40.17 U / L vs 216.63 ± 22.65 U / L, P <0.05; ALT: 139.63 ± 11.35 U / L vs 97.63 ± 15.56 U / L, P <0.01). The activity of SOD in the liver tissue decreased after intestinal I / R 0.01), which was enhanced by SFN pretreatment (P <0.05). In ad-dition, compared with the control group, SFN markedly reduced liver tissue MPO activity (P <0.05) and elevat-ed liver tissue GSH and GSH-Px activity (P <0.05, P <0.05), which was in parallel with the increased level of liver Nrf2 and HO-1 expression. CONCLUSION: SFN pretreatment attenuates liver injury induced by inte stinal I/ R in rats, attributable to the antioxidant effect through Nrf2-ARE pathway.