Open Access

Puerarin prevents cataract development and progression in diabetic rats through Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling

  • Authors:
    • Duzhen Zhang
    • Man Li
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: June 3, 2019     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10320
  • Pages: 1017-1024
  • Copyright: © Zhang et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

Metrics: Total Views: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )
Total PDF Downloads: 0 (Spandidos Publications: | PMC Statistics: )


Abstract

Puerarin is the major bioactive ingredient isolated from the dry root of Pueraria lobata, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine. Puerarin has been used to treat diabetes and cataracts in China; however, its underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effectiveness and mechanism of puerarin in preventing cataracts in diabetic rats. Diabetes was induced by streptozocin (STZ) administration and rats were intraperitoneally injected with puerarin (25, 50 and 100 mg/kg). Blood glucose levels and cataract development were examined in the different experimental groups. In addition, the expression levels of markers associated with oxidative stress, including nuclear factor erythroid 2 like 2 (Nrf2) and heme oxygenase‑1 (HO‑1), were analyzed. The present results suggested that treatment with puerarin at 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg significantly reduced blood glucose levels and the incidence of cataract in STZ‑induced diabetic rats. Additionally, puerarin treatment reduced oxidative stress, restoring the levels of malondialdehyde and glutathione, and the activity of glutathione peroxidase. Furthermore, puerarin administration decreased the expression levels of retinal vascular endothelial growth factor and interleukin‑1β and increased the mRNA expression levels of Nrf2 and HO‑1, thus inhibiting oxidative stress. The present findings suggested that puerarin had hypoglycemic effects and that it prevented cataract development and progression in diabetic rats by reducing oxidative stress through the Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling pathway.
View Figures
View References

Related Articles

Journal Cover

August-2019
Volume 20 Issue 2

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

Sign up for eToc alerts

Recommend to Library

Copy and paste a formatted citation
x
Spandidos Publications style
Zhang D and Zhang D: Puerarin prevents cataract development and progression in diabetic rats through Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling. Mol Med Rep 20: 1017-1024, 2019
APA
Zhang, D., & Zhang, D. (2019). Puerarin prevents cataract development and progression in diabetic rats through Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling. Molecular Medicine Reports, 20, 1017-1024. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10320
MLA
Zhang, D., Li, M."Puerarin prevents cataract development and progression in diabetic rats through Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling". Molecular Medicine Reports 20.2 (2019): 1017-1024.
Chicago
Zhang, D., Li, M."Puerarin prevents cataract development and progression in diabetic rats through Nrf2/HO‑1 signaling". Molecular Medicine Reports 20, no. 2 (2019): 1017-1024. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2019.10320