Effects of Trigonella foenum-graecum (L.) on retinal oxidative stress, and proinflammatory and angiogenic molecular biomarkers in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

• Published in: Molecular and cellular biochemistry 2014-03, Vol.388 (1-2), p.1-9
• Main Authors: Gupta, Suresh Kumar, Kumar, Binit, Nag, Tapas Chandra, Srinivasan, B. P., Srivastava, Sushma, Gaur, Shrikant, Saxena, Rohit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Angiogenesis; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents - therapeutic use; Antioxidants; Antioxidants - therapeutic use; Biochemistry; Biological markers; Biomarkers; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Cardiology; Catalase - biosynthesis; Diabetes; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental - drug therapy; Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetic Retinopathy - prevention & control; Fluorescein; Glutathione - biosynthesis; Inflammation - drug therapy; Interleukin-1beta - biosynthesis; Life Sciences; Medical Biochemistry; Molecular biology; Neovascularization, Pathologic - drug therapy; Oncology; Oxidative stress; Oxidative Stress - drug effects; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations - therapeutic use; Protein Kinase C beta - biosynthesis; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Retina; Retina - pathology; Retinal Degeneration - prevention & control; Retinal Vasculitis - prevention & control; Rodents; Streptozocin; Superoxide; Superoxide Dismutase - biosynthesis; Trigonella - metabolism; Tumor necrosis factor; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha - biosynthesis; Vascular endothelial growth factor; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A - biosynthesis
• ISSN: 0300-8177; 1573-4919
• DOI: 10.1007/s11010-013-1893-2

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of Trigonella foenum - graecum Linn. (fenugreek) in Streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat retina. Fenugreek (100 and 200 mg/kg body weights) treatment was carried out for 24 weeks and evaluated for inflammatory [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-1β] and angiogenic [vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and protein kinase C (PKC)-β] molecular biomarkers. Retinal oxidative stress was evaluated by estimating antioxidant (Glutathione, Superoxide dismutase, and Catalase) parameters. Fluorescein angiography was performed to detect retinal vascular leakage. Electron microscopy was performed to determine basement membrane thickness. In the present study, significant rises in the expressions of retinal inflammatory (TNF-α and IL-1β) and angiogenic (VEGF and PKC-β) molecular biomarkers were observed in diabetic retinae compared with normal retinae. However, fenugreek-treated retinae showed marked inhibition in the expression of inflammatory and angiogenic molecular biomarkers. Moreover, results from the present study showed positive modulatory effects of fenugreek on retinal oxidative stress. Fluorescein angiograms and fundus photographs obtained from diabetic retinae showed retinal vascular leakage. On the other hand, fenugreek-treated retinae did not show vascular leakage. Further, thickened BM was recorded in diabetic retina compared with normal retinae. However, fenugreek-treated retinae showed relatively lesser thickening of capillary BM. In conclusion, it may be postulated that fenugreek has great potential in preventing diabetes-induced retinal degeneration in humans after regular consumption in the specified dosage.