Abstract
Purpose: :
To evaluate the protective effects of Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) against UV irradiation in cultured human lens epithelial cells.
Methods: :
UV irradiation was produced by a UV lamp for 30 seconds with an irradiance of 0.6 mW/cm2. After 5 minutes and 1 hour, we administered different concentration of EGCG (0, 5, 10, 15, 25, 50, 100 uM). The cell count was checked under a microscope using a counting chamber and the cell viability was evaluated by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay.
Results: :
The cell count of cultured human lens epithelial cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administrated group, compared with the non-administrated group. The cell viability of cultured human lens epithelial cells after UV irradiation was markedly increased in the EGCG administrated group and was increased in a as dose-dependent way as determined by the MTT assay.
Conclusions: :
The administration of EGCG increased the cell count and the cell viability after UV irradiation in cultured human lens epithelial cells; this suggests that EGCG provided protection against UV damage in cultured human lens epithelial cells.
Keywords: radiation damage: light/UV • cell survival