Broccoli Regulates Protein Alterations and Cataractogenesis in Selenite Models

Abstract

Purpose: To study the efficacy of Brassica oleracea var. italica (Broccoli) in the prevention of selenite induced biochemical changes and the incidence of cataractogenesis in vivo.

Methods: Eight day old Sprague-Dawley rat pups were divided into four groups: I—Control; II—Sodium selenite (4 mg/kg body weight) administered; III—Sodium selenite + quercetin; and IV—Sodium selenite + flavonoid fraction of broccoli (FFB). Treatment groups III and IV received quercetin and FFB intraperitoneally from 8th to 15th day at a concentration (2.0 mg/kg body weight). The development of cataract was assessed and graded by slit-lamp examination. Some relevant biochemical parameters—such as activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, Ca²⁺ATPase, calpains, concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), levels of calcium, lipid peroxidation product—thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS) and SDS-PAGE analysis of lens water soluble proteins (WSF) were analyzed.

Results: FFB modulates selenite-induced biochemical changes in albino rats. Lenses of Group I rats were clear but in Group II, all lenses developed dense opacification (grade 5 and 6), whereas mild opacifications were observed in Group III and Group IV (grade 2). Group III and Group IV lenses exhibited significantly higher values of antioxidant enzymes, Ca²⁺ATPase, and GSH, whereas lower values were obtained for TBARS, calcium, and calpains compared to Group II. Lens protein profile of water soluble proteins showed normal levels of Group III and Group IV compared to Group II lenses.

Conclusion: FFB prevents selenite-induced cataractogenesis in albino rat pups, possibly by maintaining antioxidant status and ionic balance through Ca²⁺ ATPase pump, inhibition of lipid peroxidation, calpain activation, and protein insolubilization, which have been reported in this article for the first time.

KEYWORDS::

• Anti oxidants
• Broccoli
• Calpains
• Oxidative stress
• Selenite cataract

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We acknowledge the financial assistance received from Kerala State Council for Science Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Government of Kerala, India, as a research grant (No: (T) 17/R&D augmentation/04/KSCSTE) to Dr. Annie Abraham. Also, duly acknowledge the help rendered by Dr. Manoj Chacko, Department of Statistics, University of Kerala, India for statistical analysis.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.