Provided herein are pharmaceutical compositions and methods for treating disorders characterized by reduced expression of anti-oxidative stress enzymes in a subject. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method for inducing expression of anti-oxidative stress enzymes in a subject in need thereof. The method includes administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a demethylating agent. The demethylating agent includes a phytochemical that induces expression of Nrf2 and Nrf2-mediated genes expressing anti-oxidative stress. Such phytochemicals include indoles, such as 3,3′-diindolylmethane (DIM) and indole-3-carbinol (I3C), and isothiocyanates, such as phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) and sulforaphane (SFN).