Caffeic Acid - Potential Antioxidant in Cultured Human Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells
Abstract
Oxidative stress causes biological changes responsible for carcinogenesis and aging in human cells. The retinal pigmented epithelium is continuously exposed to oxidative stress. Therefore reactive oxygen species (ROS) and products of lipid peroxidation accumulate in RPE. Neutralization of ROS occurs in retina by the action of antioxidant defence systems. In the present study, the protective effect of caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxy cinnamic acid), a dietary phenolic compound, has been examined in normal and in oxidative stress conditions (500 µM peroxide oxygen) in cultures human epithelial pigment retinal cells (Nowak, M. et al.). The cell viability, the antioxidant enzymes activity (CAT, GPx, SOD) and the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were determined. Exposure to l00 µM caffeic acid for 24 h induced cellular changes indicating the protective effect of caffeic acid in RPE cells. Caffeic acid did not show any cytotoxic effect at concentrations lower than 200 μM in culture medium. Treatment of RPE cells with caffeic acid causes an increase of catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity, especially in cells treated with hydrogen peroxide. Caffeic acid causes a decrease of ROS level in cells treated with hydrogen peroxide. This study proved that caffeic acid or food that contain high levels of this phenolic acid may have beneficial effects in prevention of retinal diseases associated with oxidative stress by improving antioxidant defence systems.
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