Therapeutic Efficacy of Topically Applied Antioxidant Medicinal Plant Extracts in a Mouse Model of Experimental Dry Eye

• Published in: Oxidative medicine and cellular longevity Vol. 2016; no. 2016; pp. 1 - 10
• Main Authors: Yoon, Kyung-Chul, Choi, Ji Suk, Li, Zhengri, Li, Ying, Cui, Lian, Lee, Jee Bum, Choi, Won, Lee, Hyo Seok
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cairo, Egypt Hindawi Publishing Corporation 01.01.2016; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Administration, Ophthalmic; Aldehydes - metabolism; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - administration & dosage; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - administration & dosage; Biomedical research; Cytokines - metabolism; Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Experiments; Eye - drug effects; Eye - metabolism; Eye - physiopathology; Fatty acids; Female; Goblet Cells - drug effects; Goblet Cells - metabolism; Herbal medicine; Hospitals; Inflammation; Inflammation Mediators - metabolism; Light emitting diodes; Lipid peroxidation; Lipids; Lymphocytes; Medical research; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Ophthalmic Solutions; Oxidation; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Pathogenesis; Phytotherapy; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plants, Medicinal; Reactive Oxygen Species - metabolism; Rodents; Studies; Tears - drug effects; Tears - metabolism; Time Factors; Xerophthalmia - drug therapy; Xerophthalmia - metabolism; Xerophthalmia - physiopathology
• ISSN: 1942-0900; 1942-0994
• DOI: 10.1155/2016/4727415

Purpose. To investigate the therapeutic effects of topical administration of antioxidant medicinal plant extracts in a mouse model of experimental dry eye (EDE). Methods. Eye drops containing balanced salt solution (BSS) or 0.001%, 0.01%, and 0.1% extracts were applied for the treatment of EDE. Tear volume, tear film break-up time (BUT), and corneal fluorescein staining scores were measured 10 days after desiccating stress. In addition, we evaluated the levels of interleukin- (IL-) 1β, tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-) α, IL-6, interferon- (IFN-) γ, and IFN-γ associated chemokines, percentage of CD4+C-X-C chemokine receptor type 3 positive (CXCR3+) T cells, goblet cell density, number of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) positive cells, and extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Results. Compared to the EDE and BSS control groups, the mice treated with topical application of the 0.1% extract showed significant improvements in all clinical parameters, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ levels, percentage of CD4+CXCR3+ T cells, goblet cell density, number of 4-HNE-positive cells, and extracellular ROS production ( P < 0.05 ). Conclusions. Topical application of 0.1% medicinal plant extracts improved clinical signs, decreased inflammation, and ameliorated oxidative stress marker and ROS production on the ocular surface of the EDE model mice.