Protects effects of edible plant, Lithospermum erythrorhizon on oxidative stress-induced retinal degeneration in vitro and in vivo

Abstract

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the protective effects of Lithospermum erythrorhizon on the retinal degeneration in vitro and in vivo.

Methods : Retinal precursor cells (R28 cells) were treated with 0.5 mM l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO) plus 10 mM glutamate for 24 hour. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay and propidium iodide (PI)/Hoechst 33342. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), glutathione level, and intracellular calcium level were performed. The expression of apoptotic proteins was determined by western blot analysis. Partial optic nerve crush (PONC)-induced retinal degeneration was tested through retrograde labeling and optical coherence tomography (OCT).

Results : In vitro experiment, ethanol extract of Lithospermum erythrorhizon (EELE) significantly attenuated cell death compared with the negative control. Treatment of EELE reduced the intracellular ROS and calcium levels caused by oxidative stress. Moreover, glutathione level decreased after exposure of various radical species, however, treatment of EELE restored glutathione levels in R28 cells. The up-regulated expression of cleaved PARP and caspase-3 caused by BSO plus glutamate was attenuated by treatment of EELE. In vivo animal experiment, oral administration of EELE markedly prevented retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) death and inhibited loss of the thickness of retinal layers. These results demonstrated that EELE has protective effects against retinal degeneration both in vitro and in vivo.

Conclusions : EELE could be a beneficial agent for treatment of retinal degeneration.

This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.