title: Putative free radical-scavenging activity of an extract of Cineraria maritima in preventing selenite-induced cataractogenesis in Wistar rat pups.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the possible free radical-scavenging activity of an extract of Cineraria maritima on selenite-induced cataractous lenses in Wistar rat pups.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present study, Wistar rat pups were divided into three experimental groups. On P10, Group I (control) rat pups received an intraperitoneal injection of 0.89% saline. Rats in groups II (selenite-challenged, untreated) and III (selenite-challenged, C. maritima treated) received a subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite (19 μmol/kg bodyweight); Group III rat pups also received an intraperitoneal injection of the extract of C. maritima (350 mg/kg bodyweight) once daily P9-14. Both eyes of each pup were examined from P16 until P30. Cytochemical localization of nitroblue tetrazolium salts and generation of superoxide, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide levels were measured. The expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase gene was evaluated with reverse transcription-PCR. Immunoblot analysis was also performed to confirm the differential expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase protein.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subcutaneous injection of sodium selenite led to severe oxidative damage in the lenticular tissues, shown by increased formation of formazan crystals, elevated generation of superoxide, hydroxyl, and nitric oxide radicals, and elevated inducible nitric oxide synthase gene and protein expression that possibly contributed to the opacification of the lens and thus cataract formation. When rat pups were treated with intraperitoneal administration of the extract of C. maritima, the generation of free radicals as well as the messenger ribonucleic acid and protein expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase were maintained at near normal levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data generated by this study suggest that an ethanolic extract of C. maritima possibly prevents cataractogenesis in a rat model by minimizing free radical generation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Thirugnanasambandhar Sivasubramanian
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Anitha
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Arumugam Ramachandran
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Muralidharan
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Thangaraj
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Annadurai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph Eye Hospital, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Christdas Arul Nelson
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Jesudasan
authors.affiliation: Institute of Ophthalmology, Joseph Eye Hospital, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Philip Aloysius
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, School of Life Sciences, Bharathidasan University, Tamil Nadu, India.
authors.forename: Pitchairaj
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Geraldine
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D002386:Cataract / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression; D007274:Injections, Intraperitoneal; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D020887:Selenious Acid
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D010936:Plant Extracts; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052247:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II; C496318:Nos2 protein, rat; D020887:Selenious Acid