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Crocetin confers neuroprotection and is anti-inflammatory in rats with induced glaucoma

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Abstract

Background

Crocetin is a bioactive ingredient in saffron, derived from the Crocus sativus stigmas of the Iridaceae family. As a chemically carotenoid derivative, crocetin exhibites effects like anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, neuroprotective, etc. However, the protective effect of crocetin on glaucoma and its mechanism remains unclear. The current study assesed the neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory effects of crocetin on retinal neurons in glaucoma rats which were induced by 0.3% carbomer injection into the anterior chamber.

Methods and results

The pathological structures on the retina and optic nerve were observed and examined by H&E staining and transmission electron microscopy. Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 of the retina and the expression of a brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in the primary visual cortex (PVC). Western blot was carried out to detect the expression of PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB in the retina. It was found that crocetin ameliorated the pathological changes of the retina and ON and reduced the number of apoptotic retinal ganglion cells. Immunohistochemical staining showed that crocetin could decrease the contents of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and increase the contents of BDNF. Western blot showed that crocetin was found to suppress the expression of PI3K, Akt, and NF-κB.

Conclusion

The results obtained in this study have indicated that crocetin showes neuroprotective effects on retinal ganglion cells in glaucoma rats and inhibits retinal dysfunction. Meanwhile, crocetin exerted an anti-inflammatory effect to protect the retina by inhibiting the expression of the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway. This work provides substantial evidence that crocetin may be a potential drug for the treatment of glaucoma.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the key research and development project of Zhejiang Province (No.2022C03050) and the Key Science and Technology Project of Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province (No.2020-1-025).

Funding

This research was financially supported by the key research and development project of Zhejiang Province (No.2022C03050) and the Key Science and Technology Project of Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province (No.2020-1-025).

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Author notes

  1. Qiaoqiao Li and Peishi Feng have contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University of Technology, No.18, Chaowang Road, 310014, Hangzhou, People’s Republic of China

    Qiaoqiao Li, Peishi Feng, Susu Lin, Zijin Xu, Jiajing Zhao, Ziwei Chen, Zirui Luo, Yi Tao & Ping Wang

  2. Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, No.18, Chaowang Road, 310014, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, People’s Republic of China

    Suhong Chen

  3. College of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, 334000, Shangrao, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China

    Zijin Xu

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  1. Qiaoqiao Li
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Contributions

Ping Wang and Suhong Chen designed the study, Qiaoqiao Li, Peishi Feng, Susu Lin, and Jiajing Zhao performed the research, Zijin Xu, Ziwei Chen, and Zirui Luo analyzed the data and interpreted the results, Qiaoqiao Li, Peishi Feng, and Yi Tao were involved in writing the manuscript. All authors discussed the results and revised the manuscript.

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Suhong Chen or Ping Wang.

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Declaration of competing interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests in this work.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

All applicable international, national, and institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All animal studies were carried out as per the Guidelines for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals at the Zhejiang University of Technology in Hangzhou, China, provided vide ethical code No. 20200810104.

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Li, Q., Feng, P., Lin, S. et al. Crocetin confers neuroprotection and is anti-inflammatory in rats with induced glaucoma. Mol Biol Rep 50, 1321–1331 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11033-022-08102-9

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