Eman M. Aly ¹, Haiam M. Aboul-Ela ², Mervat A. Aly ¹

Affiliations
1 Research Institute of Ophthalmology, EG
2 Marine Biotechnology and Natural Products Lab, the National Institute of Oceanography and Fisheries, EG

Abstract

Objective: The present study was directed to examine the toxicity of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) in ocular tissues of Swiss Albino mice and the strong antioxidant beneficial effects of Spirulina platensis. Methods/Analysis: Na+-K+ATPase measurement was done on the lens membrane. Soluble lens proteins were extracted and the following techniques were made: evaluation of total soluble protein and gel filtration chromatography. Likewise, the corneal protein secondary structure was evaluated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). For comparison between multiple groups, analysis of variance was used with significance level set at P < 0.001. Finding: The results demonstrated a decrease in total soluble lens protein and Na+-K+ATPase activity, increase in molecular weight of all lens protein fractions and there are different structural and conformational changes in cornea after injection of CCl4. These changes were reduced in pretreated mice with Spirulina. Novelty/Improvement: Our study clearly concluded that Spirulina platensis shows a protective effect on the lens and cornea through its antioxidant activity on CCl4-induced toxicity in mice.

Keywords

Antioxidant, Carbon Tetrachloride, Cornea, Lens, Spirulina.

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