title: Litsea japonica extract inhibits neuronal apoptosis and the accumulation of advanced glycation end products in the diabetic mouse retina.
abstract: The retinal accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) is a condition, which is found in diabetic retinopathy. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of Litsea japonica extract (LJE) and to elucidate its underlying protective mechanism in model diabetic db/db mice. Male, 7 -week-old db/db mice were treated with LJE (100 or 250 mg/kg body weight) once a day orally for 12 weeks. The expression levels of AGEs and their receptor (RAGE) were subsequently assessed by immunohistochemistry. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay and southwestern histochemistry were used to detect activated nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). The immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that LJE significantly reduced the expression levels of the AGEs and RAGE in the neural retinas of the db/db mice. LJE markedly inhibited the apoptosis of retinal ganglion cells. In addition, LJE suppressed the activation of NF-κB. These results suggested that LJE may be beneficial for the treatment of diabetes-induced retinal neurodegeneration, and the ability of LJE to attenuate retinal ganglion cell loss may be mediated by inhibition of the accumulation of AGEs.
authors: Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Development Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305‑811, Republic of Korea.
authors: Junghyun
authors: J
authors: Kim
authors: Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Development Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305‑811, Republic of Korea.
authors: Chan-Sik
authors: CS
authors: Kim
authors: Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Development Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305‑811, Republic of Korea.
authors: Yun Mi
authors: YM
authors: Lee
authors: Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Development Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305‑811, Republic of Korea.
authors: Eunjin
authors: E
authors: Sohn
authors: Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Development Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305‑811, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kyuhyung
authors: K
authors: Jo
authors: Korean Medicine Based Herbal Drug Development Group, Herbal Medicine Research Division, Korea Institute of Oriental Medicine, Daejeon 305‑811, Republic of Korea.
authors: Jin Sook
authors: JS
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D032862:Litsea / Q000737:chemistry*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012165:Retinal Ganglion Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C000593873:Ager protein, mouse; D017127:Glycation End Products, Advanced; D016328:NF-kappa B; D010936:Plant Extracts; D000067759:Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products