To further investigate whether Nrf2 was activated in SEM-induced protection from obesity-associated hepatic steatosis, the expression of Nrf2 and its downstream targets heme oxygenase 1 (Ho1) and recombinant NADH dehydrogenase quinone 1 (Nqo1) was examined. The gene discussed is NQO1; the disease is obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.