Broccoli regulates protein alterations and cataractogenesis in selenite models.
OBJECTIVE
To study the efficacy of Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli) in the prevention of selenite induced biochemical changes and the incidence of cataractogenesis in vivo.


METHODS
Eight day old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were divided into four groups: I-Control; II-Sodium selenite (4 mg/kg body weight) administered; III-Sodium selenite + quercetin; and IV-Sodium selenite + flavonoid fraction of broccoli (FFB). Treatment groups III and IV received quercetin and FFB intraperitoneally from 8th to 15th day at a concentration (2.0 mg/kg body weight). The development of cataract was assessed and graded by slit-lamp examination. Some relevant biochemical parameters-such as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, Ca(2+)ATPase, calpains, concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), levels of calcium, lipid peroxidation product-thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and SDS-PAGE analysis of lens water soluble proteins (WSF) were analyzed.


RESULTS
FFB modulates selenite-induced biochemical changes in albino rats. Lenses of Group I rats were clear but in Group II, all lenses developed dense opacification (grade 5 and 6), whereas mild opacifications were observed in Group III and Group IV (grade 2). Group III and Group IV lenses exhibited significantly higher values of antioxidant enzymes, Ca(2+)ATPase, and GSH, whereas lower values were obtained for TBARS, calcium, and calpains compared to Group II. Lens protein profile of water soluble proteins showed normal levels of Group III and Group IV compared to Group II lenses.


CONCLUSIONS
FFB prevents selenite-induced cataractogenesis in albino rat pups, possibly by maintaining antioxidant status and ionic balance through Ca(2+) ATPase pump, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, calpain activation, and protein insolubilization, which have been reported in this article for the first time.
Department of Biochemistry, University of Kerala, Kariavattom, Thiruvananthapuram, India.
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Vibin
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Siva Priya
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N Rooban
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Sasikala
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Sahasranamam
Annie
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Abraham
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D001937:Brassica / Q000737:chemistry*; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases / Q000378:metabolism; D002154:Calpain / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003459:Crystallins / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011794:Quercetin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D018038:Sodium Selenite / Q000633:toxicity; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances / Q000378:metabolism
D000975:Antioxidants; D003459:Crystallins; D010936:Plant Extracts; D017392:Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances; D011794:Quercetin; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D002154:Calpain; D000252:Calcium-Transporting ATPases; D005978:Glutathione; D018038:Sodium Selenite; D002118:Calcium