title: Ameliorative effects of thymoquinone against eye lens changes in streptozotocin diabetic rats.
abstract: The possible protective effect of thymoquinone against eye lens changes in diabetic rats was investigated. Following diabetes induction by a single injection of streptozotocin (45 mg/kg, i.p.), thymoquinone was administered in three different doses (20, 40, and 80 mg/kg/day, p.o.) for 12 weeks. Thymoquinone significantly and dose-dependently attenuated the hypoinsulinemia and hyperglycemia in diabetic rats. Also, thymoquinone (particularly 40 and 80 mg/kg) significantly decreased the elevations of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, tumor necrosis factor-α, glycated proteins, aldose reductase activity, sorbitol level, and caspase-3 activity in the lens tissues of diabetic rats. In addition, thymoquinone (particularly 40 and 80 mg/kg) significantly ameliorated the diabetes-induced reductions of glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities, and total and soluble protein contents in the lens tissues. It was concluded that thymoquinone significantly protected the lens tissue against changes induced by diabetes in rats through its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Pharmacology Division, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Postal code: 31982, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: amrfouad65@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Amr A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fahad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alwadani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D016227:Benzoquinones / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000975:Antioxidants; D016227:Benzoquinones; D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D013311:Streptozocin; C003466:thymoquinone
keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Eye lens; Rats; Thymoquinone