Cataracts are the major cause of
blindness and are associated with oxidative damage of the lens. In the present study, the aim was to evaluate the protective effects of
rosmarinic acid on
selenite-induced cataractogenesis in Sprague-Dawley rat pups. The animals were randomly divided into five groups, each of which consisted of 10 rat pups. Group I served as normal control (vehicle administration). For testing
cataract induction, animals of Groups II, III, IV, and V were administered a single
subcutaneous injection of
sodium selenite (2.46 mg/kg
body weight) on postpartum day 12. After
sodium selenite intoxication, Group II served as control
selenite. From the 11th day through the 17th day, Groups III-V received
rosmarinic acid intraperitoneally at doses of 5, 10, and 50 mg/kg, respectively. On postpartum day 24, the rat pups were examined for
cataract formation, and the
lenses were isolated for further analysis of
proteins and oxidative damage indicators.
Selenite caused significant (p < 0.05)
cataract formation. Through the effects of
selenite, the
protein expressions of
filensin and
calpain 2 were reduced, and the
calcium concentrations, the level of lipid peroxidation (
TBARS), and
inflammation indicators (iNOS, COX-2, and NFκB) were upregulated. Furthermore, the
protein expression of the
antioxidant status (Nrf2, SOD, HO-1, and NQO1), the
antioxidant enzymes activities (GSH-Px, GSH-Rd, and
catalase), and the GSH levels were downregulated. In contrast, treatment with
rosmarinic acid could significantly (p < 0.05) ameliorate
cataract formation and oxidative damage in the lens. Moreover,
rosmarinic acid administration significantly increased the
protein expressions of
filensin,
calpain 2, Nrf2, SOD, HO-1, and NQO1, the
antioxidant enzymes activities, and the GSH level, in addition to reducing the
calcium, lipid peroxidation, and
inflammation indicators in the lens. Taken together,
rosmarinic acid is a prospective anti-
cataract agent that probably delays the onset and progression of
cataracts induced by
sodium selenite.