Effects of bilberry on deoxyribonucleic Acid damage and oxidant-antioxidant balance in the lens, induced by ultraviolet radiation

• Published in: The Malaysian journal of medical sciences Vol. 21; no. 1; p. 11
• Main Authors: Aly, Eman Mohamed, Ali, Mervat Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysia Universiti Sains Malaysia Press 01.01.2014; Penerbit Universiti Sains Malaysia
• Subjects: Antioxidants; Cataracts; Original; Rodents; Studies; Ultraviolet radiation; Giza Egypt; bilberry; malondialdehyde; comet assay; rat; lens; ultraviolet
• ISSN: 1394-195X; 2180-4303

This study investigated the possible protective effects of bilberry extract after exposing rat eyes to ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation. Four groups of rats were included in this study, each consisting of 10 Wistar rats. The first group acted as the control, and the second group was exposed to UV-B, 5 KJ/m(2) (λm = 300 nm), for 15 minutes. The third group was orally administered bilberry extract (160 mg twice per day) for two weeks before exposure to the UV-B, while the fourth group was administered the same dose of bilberry extract for two weeks before euthanisation. A comet assay was used to examine DNA damage, while the malondialdehyde (MDA) level and superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) and catalase (CAT), activities were measured in the lens. After exposing the rats to UV-B radiation, the mean percentage tail DNA and tail moment were significantly increased (P < 0.001) when compared to the control group. In the same context, the lens tissue MDA levels and CAT activity were also significantly increased (P < 0.001). The supplementation of the bilberry extract was found to improve the comet assay parameters and enzymatic activity of the rat lens tissue. The administration of bilberry led to a decrease in the oxidative stress in the lens tissues and DNA damage induced by UV-B radiation in the lenses of Wistar rats.