ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND@#/
OBJECTIVE:
Centella asiatica, also known as
Gotu kola, is a tropical
medicinal plant native to
Madagascar,
Southeast Asia, and
South Africa. It is well known to have
biological activities, including
wound healing, anti-inflammatory,
antidiabetic, cytotoxic, and
antioxidant effects. The purpose of this study was to determine the
efficacy of extracts of C. asiatica against age-related
eye degeneration and to examine their physiological activities.MATERIALS/
METHODS:
To determine the effects of CA-HE50 (C. asiatica 50% EtOH extract) on
retinal pigment cells, we assessed the cytotoxicity of CoCl2 and oxidized-A2E in ARPE- 19
cells and observed the protective effects of CA-HE50 against
N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced
retinal damage in C57BL/6
mice. In particular, we measured factors related to
apoptosis and anti-
oxidation and the
protein levels of
rhodopsin/
opsin. We also measured
glucose uptake to characterize
glucose metabolism, a major factor in
cell protection. @*RESULTS@#Induction of cytotoxicity with CoCl2 and oxidized-A2E inhibited decreases in the viability of ARPE-19
cells when CA-HE50 was administered, and promoted
glucose uptake under normal conditions (P < 0.05). In addition, CA-HE50 inhibited degeneration/
apoptosis of the
retina in the context of MNU-induced
toxicity (P < 0.05). In particular, CA-HE50 at 200 mg/kg inhibited the cleavage of
pro-caspase-3 and pro-poly (
ADP-ribose)-polymerase and maintained the expressions of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 and
heme oxygenase-1 similar to normal control levels.
Rhodopsin/
opsin expression was maintained at a higher level than in normal controls. @*CONCLUSION@#A series of experiments confirmed that CA-HE50 was effective for inhibiting or preventing age-related
eye damage/degeneration. Based on these results, we believe it is worthwhile to develop
drugs or
functional foods related to age-related
eye degeneration using CA-HE50.