(+)-DHMEQ is an antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 activator. (+)-DHMEQ is the enantiomer of (-)-DHMEQ.

(+)-DHMEQ activates Nrf2, a transcription factor that can induce the expression of various antioxidant enzymes. (+)-DHMEQ activates Nrf2 in promoter reporter gene analysis. (+)-DHMEQ also increases the expression of target antioxidant proteins in nerve cell lines and eliminates reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced cell death. ROS generating 6-hydroxydopamine hydrochloride (6-OHDA) induces the death of SK-N-SH cells, and (+)-DHMEQ decreases the cytotoxic effect of 6-OHDA, whereas its effect is weaker in Nrf2-knockdown cells prepared with siRNA. Thus, enhancement of the neural cell viability by (+)-DHMEQ is due to the activation of Nrf2.