Protective effects of Scoparia dulcis L. extract on high glucose-induced injury in human retinal pigment epithelial cells

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major cause of vision loss in diabetic patients. Hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and the accumulation of inflammatory factors result in blood-retinal barrier dysfunction and the pathogenesis of DR. Scoparia dulcis L. extract (SDE), a traditional Chinese medicine, has been recently recognized for its various pharmacological effects, including anti-diabetic, anti-hyperlipidemia, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative activities. However, there is no relevant research on the protective effect of SDE in DR. In this study, we treated high glucose (50 mM) in human retinal epithelial cells (ARPE-19) with different concentrations of SDE and analyzed cell viability, apoptosis, and ROS production. Moreover, we analyzed the expression of Akt, Nrf2, catalase, and HO-1, which showed that SDE dose-dependently reduced ROS production and attenuated ARPE-19 cell apoptosis in a high-glucose environment. Briefly, we demonstrated that SDE exhibited an anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory ability in protecting retinal cells from high-glucose (HG) treatment. Moreover, we also investigated the involvement of the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway in SDE-mediated protective effects. The results suggest SDE as a nutritional supplement that could benefit patients with DR.

Clinical observations and mechanistic insights of traditional Chinese medicine in the management of diabetic retinopathy

“…Scoparia dulcis L. (Plantaginaceae) extract protected ARPE-19 cells from apoptosis by inhibiting oxidative and inflammatory stress through the Akt/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway (Lin et al. 2023 ). Similarly, diosgenin increased the viability of ARPE-19 cells induced by high glucose, benefiting from activating the AMPK/Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and reducing the inflammatory response and oxidative stress in ARPE-19 cells (Hao and Gao 2022 ).…”