Phlorizin Protects Against Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration Model
Background:<i></i>Sweet Tea (Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd.), a traditional ethnobotanical medicine, contains phlorizin, a dihydrochalcone compound with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Given the critical role of oxidative stress and inflammation in age-related macular deg...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| Series: | Biomolecules |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2218-273X/15/4/523 |
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| Summary: | Background:<i></i>Sweet Tea (Lithocarpus polystachyus Rehd.), a traditional ethnobotanical medicine, contains phlorizin, a dihydrochalcone compound with antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Given the critical role of oxidative stress and inflammation in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this study tested the hypothesis that phlorizin mitigates oxidative damage and inflammation in AMD models, thereby offering therapeutic potential. Materials and Methods: Adult retinal pigmented epithelial cells (ARPE-19) were pre-treated with phlorizin (0.01–0.1 μM) and subjected to oxidative stress induced by ultraviolet A (UVA) radiation or sodium iodate (NaIO<sub>3</sub>). Cell viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, MAPK/NF-κB signaling, and the level of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and pro-angiogenic factors (VEGF, MMP2, MMP9) expression were assessed using MTT assays, fluorescence imaging, Western blotting, and RT-qPCR. In vivo, a laser-induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV) mouse model was used to evaluate phlorizin’s effects on CNV formation and vascular leakage via fundus photography and fluorescence angiography. Result: Phlorizin significantly enhanced cell viability, reduced ROS production, inhibited MAPK/NF-κB activation, and downregulated inflammatory and angiogenic mediators. In vivo studies confirmed the reduced CNV formation and vascular leakage following the phlorizin treatment. Conclusions: Phlorizin demonstrated significant protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation, highlighting its therapeutic potential for treating AMD. |
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| ISSN: | 2218-273X |