title: Protective Effect of Total Flavones from Hippophae rhamnoides L. against Visible Light-Induced Retinal Degeneration in Pigmented Rabbits.
abstract: Sea buckthorn (Hippophae rhamnoides L.) flavones have been used as candidate functional food ingredients because of their bioactivities, such as treating cardiovascular disorders, lowering plasma cholesterol level, and regulating immune function. However, the protective effects of sea buckthorn flavones against retinal degeneration remain unclear to date. This study investigated the protective effects of total flavones from H. rhamnoides (TFH) against visible light-induced retinal damage and explored the related mechanisms in pigmented rabbits. Rabbits were treated with TFH (250 and 500 mg/kg) for 2 weeks pre-illumination and 1 week post-illumination until sacrifice. Retinal function was quantified by performing electroretinography 1 day before and 1, 3, and 7 days after light exposure (18000 lx for 2 h). Retinal degeneration was evaluated by measuring the thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and performing the TUNEL assay 7 days after light exposure. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry were used to explore the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic mechanisms of TFH during visible light-induced retinal degeneration. Light exposure produced a degenerative effect primarily on the ONL, inner nuclear layer (INL), and ganglion cell layer (GCL). TFH significantly attenuated the destruction of electroretinograms caused by light damage, maintained ONL thickness, and decreased the number of TUNEL-positive cells in the INL and GCL. TFH ameliorated the retinal oxidative stress (GSH-Px, CAT, T-AOC, and MDA), inflammation (IL-1β and IL-6), angiogenesis (VEGF), and apoptosis (Bax, Bcl2, and caspase-3) induced by light exposure. Therefore, TFH exhibited protective effects against light-induced retinal degeneration by increasing the antioxidant defense mechanisms, suppressing pro-inflammatory and angiogenic cytokines, and inhibiting retinal cell apoptosis.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China.|Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition , Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Fenghong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: School of Food and Biological Engineering, Jiangsu University , Zhenjiang 212013, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Ou
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiaoxuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Beijing Key Laboratory of Functional Food from Plant Resources, College of Food Science & Nutritional Engineering, China Agricultural University , Beijing 100083, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Baoping
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: Oil Crops Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences , Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China.|Hubei Key Laboratory of Lipid Chemistry and Nutrition , Wuhan 430062, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qianchun
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Deng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D047309:Flavones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D031281:Hippophae / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D053583:Interleukin-1beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008027:Light / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011817:Rabbits; D012160:Retina / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects
chemical_list: D047309:Flavones; D053583:Interleukin-1beta; D015850:Interleukin-6; D010936:Plant Extracts; D053148:Caspase 3
keywords: Hippophae rhamnoides L.; flavones; inflammation; oxidative stress; photoreceptor; retinoprotection; visible light-induced retinal degeneration