The role of saffron in improvement of ocular surface disease in a mouse model of Lacrimal Gland Excision-induced dry eye disease
Seyed Hashem Daryabari1 *, Hasan Yousefi-Manesh2 , Hossein Aghamollaei3 , Ahmad Reza Dehpour4
- Assistant Prof. of Ophthalmology, Chemical Injury Research Center, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Chemical Injuries Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Experimental Medicine Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: One of the most prevalent eye disorders is dry eye disease (DED), described by ocular dryness due to tear insufficiency. Prolonged dry eye causes damage and ulcers to the surface of the cornea. The core of the DED mechanism is inflammation, a biological response of the body to pathogens. Several studies have indicated that saffron has many beneficial biological effects, such as anti-inflammatory and free radical scavenging. This research aims to examine the possible positive impact of saffron in the mice model of DED.
Methods: The animals were divided into 4 groups. Induction of DED was done by right Lacrimal Gland Excision (LGE). Treatment was done by intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of saffron (1 mg/kg/day, for 28 days after induction of DED) in the SAF group, betamethasone (the BET group) (i.p., 1 mg/kg/day, for 28 days after induction of DED), the LGE group (received normal saline i.p. for 28 days after induction of DED) and the sham group (no induction of DED). Ophthalmological assay with fluorescein staining on the 0, 14 and, 28 days, histopathological analysis (H & E assay) on the last day and, pro-inflammatory cytokine assays of eyes were done.
Results: Saffron and betamethasone reduced the fluorescein score of the eyes (P < 0.0001) and improved the ocular surface disease in H & E assay as well as reduced the eye levels of TNF-α (P < 0.01), IL-1β (P < 0.0001) and, IL-6 (P < 0.001) compared to those of the LGE group.
Conclusion: The current study indicated that treatment with saffron has a beneficial effect on LGE (Lacrimal gland excision)-induced DED in mice via its anti-inflammatory properties.
