Exploring Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Methanolic Extracts from Adlay Seed in Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Zahra Gharegezloo1 , Zahra Rezvani1 *, Foroogh Namjoyan2 , Fatemeh Sanie-Jahromi3
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Faculty of chemistry, University of Kashan, Kashan, Iran
- Pharmacognosy Department, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Poostchi Ophthalmology Research Center, Department of Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) stands as a leading cause of vision loss in individuals with diabetes, characterized by microvascular complications. Pro-inflammatory mediators, including IL-6, IL-1b, TGF-b, and VEGF, contribute to diabetic macular edema (DME) associated with DR. Identifying potential biomarkers, particularly systemic and local inflammatory markers, offers insights into DR progression. The exploration of anti-inflammatory interventions holds promise for effective DR treatment. This study aimed to investigate the effect of two fractions, denoted as MeOH and Res, derived from the methanolic extract of Adlay seed on the expression of key inflammatory genes.
Methods: RPE cells (106 cells/10 cm2) were treated with MeOH and Res extracts (40 μg/ml, 24 hours). A control group received a medium without extract under identical conditions. RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and real-time PCR were employed to quantify the expression levels of TGF-β, IL-1b, LIF, and IL-6 in treated cells compared to controls.
Results: In RPE cells treated with MeOH and Res extracts, a significant decrease in the expression of IL-6, TGF-?, and LIF genes was observed. Notably, the reduction in gene expression was more pronounced in cells treated with Res. Conversely, the expression of the IL-1b gene increased in cells treated with MeOH extract. The application of Adlay seed extracts demonstrated the potential to mitigate gene expression associated with inflammation in RPE cells. However, the extent of this modulation was found to be dependent on the specific extraction method.
Conclusion: This proof-of-concept study highlights the anti-inflammatory properties of MeOH and Res extracts from Adlay seed in human RPE cells. The observed modulation in gene expression, particularly the reduction of inflammatory markers, suggests the potential utility of this extract in the treatment of retinal diseases, including diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration. Further investigations are warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize extraction methods for enhanced therapeutic efficacy.
