Abstract | AIMS:
Crocin, a pharmacologically active component of Crocus sativus L. (saffron), has been reported to be useful in the treatment of oxidative stress injury. In the present study, we investigated the antioxidative effect of crocin and the change of the ERK signaling pathway on rat retina induced by ischemia/reperfusion (IR) injury. METHODS: RESULTS: Our results showed that crocin treatment (50 mg/kg) significantly inhibited the decrease of retinal thickness through HE staining and protected RGCs from decreasing. Compared with the IR + vehicle group, crocin treatment significantly decreased cleaved caspase-3 and p-ERK protein expression by Western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Immunohistochemical staining for cleaved caspase-3 and p-ERK in the retinal sections showed positive cells were present in the RGC layer and inner nuclear layer after IR injury. Similarly, crocin (50 mg/kg) treatment also significantly increased the level of activity of GSH, enhanced the activity of T-SOD, and decreased the activity level of ROS and MDA after IR injury. CONCLUSIONS: These findings demonstrated that crocin treatment could notably protect the retina from damage induced by IR. It might be related to crocin antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties in the retina.
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Authors | Li Chen, Yun Qi, Xinguang Yang |
Journal | Ophthalmic research
(Ophthalmic Res)
Vol. 54
Issue 3
Pg. 157-68
( 2015)
ISSN: 1423-0259 [Electronic] Switzerland |
PMID | 26437379
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
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Copyright | © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel. |
Chemical References |
- Free Radical Scavengers
- Neuroprotective Agents
- Reactive Oxygen Species
- Carotenoids
- Malondialdehyde
- crocin
- Superoxide Dismutase
- Casp3 protein, rat
- Caspase 3
- Glutathione
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Topics |
- Animals
- Apoptosis
(drug effects)
- Blotting, Western
- Carotenoids
(pharmacology)
- Caspase 3
(metabolism)
- Cell Survival
(drug effects)
- Free Radical Scavengers
(pharmacology)
- Glutathione
(metabolism)
- Immunohistochemistry
- MAP Kinase Signaling System
(drug effects)
- Male
- Malondialdehyde
(metabolism)
- Neuroprotective Agents
(pharmacology)
- Oxidative Stress
(drug effects)
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Reactive Oxygen Species
(metabolism)
- Reperfusion Injury
(metabolism, prevention & control)
- Retinal Diseases
(metabolism, prevention & control)
- Retinal Ganglion Cells
(drug effects, metabolism)
- Superoxide Dismutase
(metabolism)
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