Effect of Pycnogenol® on an experimental rat model of allergic conjunctivitis

Session Details

Session Title: Cornea Medical II

Session Date/Time: Tuesday 13/09/2016 | 08:00-10:30

Paper Time: 10:18

Venue: Hall C3

First Author: : A.Akyuz Unsal TURKEY

Co Author(s): :    T. Kocaturk   C. Gunel   I. Meteoglu   I. Kurt Omurlu   B. Demirci        

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Allergic conjunctivitis (AC) is a frequent and challenging disease in ophthalmology practice. Steroid treatment can induce cataract and glaucoma. Previous reports have shown that cell protective effect of Pycnogenol® (PYC) is depended on its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the study is to investigate the effect of PYC on an experimental AC model when given by systematic route.

Setting:

Wistar rats, 12-15 months old female, were obtained from Experimental Animal Center of Adnan Menderes University (ADU) and all experiments were performed in accordance with the principles and guidelines of ADU Animal Ethical Committee’s approval (HADYEK 2014/098). The rats randomly divided in to six groups, 7 rats in each cages.

Methods:

AC was induced by seven intraperitoneal injections of ovalbumin+Al(OH)3 for 14 days and consequently, once a day eye dripping of ovalbumin together with intraperitoneally PYC (3 or 10 mg/kg) for seven days treatment. Control rats were given adjuvant Al(OH)3 and PYC (10 mg/kg/7days ); sensitized positive control group has given dexamethasone (1 mg/kg/7days ). After the sacrification of rats, histological evaluation was performed for mast cell triptase, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta staining.

Results:

PYC treatment alone did not show any detrimental effect on the histopathology of conjunctiva. Mast cell count (MCC) is significantly decreased by both dexamethasone and 10mg/kg given PYC treatment groups on the experimental model of allergic conjunctivitis (MCC: 1,85±0,69/2,42±0,53). This result was statistically significant (p=0,01/p=0,04). TGF-beta negatively, TNF-alpha weak focal staining were the common findings of dexamethasone and PYC treatment groups.

Conclusions:

The animal model of AC was successfully developed by using aforementioned way, PYC is a safe herbal product; moreover it has alleviated the findings of ovalbumine-induced allergic conjunctivitis histologically

Financial Disclosure:

NONE